Nephrology in Karnataka

Karnataka, a southern Indian state, exhibits a vibrant cultural and economic landscape. This paper provides an overview of nephrology services in Karnataka, drawing on government data, a literature review, and a survey of 147 dialysis centers and hospitals. The inception of nephrology in Karnataka dates to the early 1970s. Kidney care services have remained primarily centered in the capital city of Bengaluru. There are around 200 nephrologists and 300 dialysis centers (168 under the Pradhan Mantri National Dialysis Program), with hemodialysis being the predominant modality. Transplant services are offered in 69 centers, most in the capital city. Nephrology training is offered at 20 centers. Challenges remain, including the uneven distribution of services, fluctuating dialysis costs, and restricted access to peritoneal and home dialysis. There is a lack of comprehensive epidemiological data, necessitating the establishment of a statewide CKD registry.