Twenty million suffer from renal diseases in Pakistan

According to a report prepared by the Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation (SIUT), the diseases include urinary tract infection, stones and prostate problems. "Prevalence of kidney related diseases is alarmingly high in the country," newspapers quoted a senior urologist as saying.

The facilities for dialysis and other treatment facilities are insufficient in the country and the treatment is expensive and unaffordable for most Pakistanis. "Pakistan lies on stone belt of the world and stone related diseases are a major problem in the region," said professor Adibul Hasan Rizvi. Major reasons cited for stone diseases in the country are poor diet, lack of protein, calcium, hot weather and low fluid intake by the people.

(la/dpa)