Expressing their concern, kidney specialists yesterday said that at least 95 percent of kidney diseases can be prevented through controlling throat pain, skin disease known as nephritis, diabetes and blood pressure.

The country does not have adequate kidney experts, particularly urologist, they said, adding that there is one urologist for every 20 lakh people.

They were speaking at a discussion organised by the National Institute of Kidney Diseases and Urology (NIKDU) in the city on the occasion of NIKDU Day.

Health Minister Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain said the NIKDU would be turned into a centre of excellence through developing its activities.

He also assured that the demands for staff quarters, dormitory and auditorium of NIKDU would be met soon under the government's Health Nutrition and Population programme.

The country would also get more kidney experts after the introduction of post-graduate course at the institute, he added.

Prevention is ten times better than cure, the minister said, adding that about 85 percent of kidney patients could not afford dialysis.

Prof Jahangir Kabir, director of NIKDU, said some 70 patients receive treatment at the 116-bed institute hospital every day, which was inaugurated on December 28, 2003.

Prof MA Hadi, vice-chancellor of the BSMMU and president of Bangladesh Medical Association (BMA), Dr AZM Zahid Hossain, secretary general of BMA, and Dr Khandaker Shefayat Ullah, acting director of Health Directorate, also spoke on the occasion.

The discussion was followed by a scientific session.