Media Release 15 August 2009

Kidney Kar Rally To Make A Noise About The Silent Killer

Warning on Lack of Government Policy to fight Kidney Disease

Kidney Health Australia has used the start of its 21st Kidney Kar Rally to 'Make a Noise about the Silent Killer' Chronic Kidney Disease and issue a warning to the Federal and State Governments over the current lack of long term policy and funding to reduce the burden of kidney disease in Australia.

The 4500 kilometre rally will cover three states Tasmania, Victoria and New South Wales over the next seven days with a major event in Melbourne on Tuesday when the seventy strong Rally will tour the City of Melbourne before heading to Ballarat.

Speaking at the start of the rally in Launceston this morning Anne Wilson CEO of Kidney Health Australia said, the projections of numbers needing dialysis in Australia over the next 10 years were alarming and indicate that the cost involved will have a significant impact on the Australian community and Australia's health budget.

"Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is known as the 'silent killer' as people can lose up to 90% of the use of their kidneys without even knowing it. The silent nature of CKD seems to be mirrored by the silence of Government on CKD policies.

Ms Wilson said Government in Australia should be paying attention to the strategies and experience of the US Congress who have moved to save the US economy from drowning in Dialysis Debt by focusing on detection, prevention and management.

"In the US CKD has been identified as a silent but deadly multiplier of other major chronic diseases including heart disease, diabetes and cancer. Patients with CKD have a greatly increased risk of having a heart attack, stroke or diabetes."

Ms Wilson said the fragmented health care management between Federal and State Governments presented a major hurdle for improving the prevention and treatment of CKD in Australia where the economic impact in the future appears not to have been recognized or promoted.

At the end of 2007, 9,642 people in Australia were receiving dialysis treatment.

Dr Tim Mathew Medical Director of Kidney Health Australia said, "Dialysis for Chronic Kidney Disease is the most frequent reason for hospitalisation. In 2007-08, regular dialysis for CKD was recorded as the principal diagnosis in 989,000 (almost 1 million) separations 12.6% of all hospitalisation in that year."

Media Enquiries:
Anne Wilson, CEO Kidney Health Australia Mobile: 0400 165 391
Dr Tim Mathew, Medical Director Kidney Health Australia Mobile: 0416 149 863
Ron Smith National Media Communications Kidney Health Australia Mobile: 0417 329 201

www.kidney.org.au