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NEW DELHI – A Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare has recommended mandatory kidney function tests every six months for everyone aged 20 and above, marking a major proposed shift in India’s approach to chronic kidney disease (CKD).
The recommendation is part of a broader strategy focused on prevention, early detection and slowing the progression of kidney disease, rather than relying primarily on treatment after patients develop advanced kidney failure.
The panel also recommended annual screening for people considered at high risk of CKD and proposed making kidney function testing more accessible through India’s public healthcare system.
Why Has the Parliamentary Panel Recommended Kidney Tests From Age 20?
The committee highlighted concerns that chronic kidney disease can remain silent during its early stages. Many people may have declining kidney function without experiencing obvious symptoms, meaning the disease can remain undetected until significant damage has already occurred.
The panel therefore believes that routine kidney screening could help identify abnormalities earlier, allowing patients and healthcare professionals to intervene before the disease progresses further.
The recommendation comes as India faces a growing burden of CKD and increasing demand for dialysis and kidney-related healthcare services.
According to the committee, approximately 220,000 new patients with end-stage kidney disease are added every year, creating demand for around 34 million additional dialysis sessions annually.
Kidney Function Tests Every Six Months
Under the proposal, all individuals aged 20 years and above would undergo a kidney function test twice a year.
The committee recommended that the testing be incorporated into the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NP-NCD).
It also proposed that the tests be provided free of charge to people below the poverty line, while people above the poverty line would receive them at a nominal cost.
The proposal is intended to make regular kidney screening accessible rather than leaving testing dependent on whether individuals voluntarily visit healthcare facilities.
High-Risk Groups Would Receive Additional Screening
While the proposed six-monthly kidney function test would cover everyone aged 20 and above, the committee has identified several groups requiring more targeted and regular screening.
These include people with:
- Diabetes
- Hypertension
- A family history of kidney disease
- Obesity
- Tobacco use
- Previous acute kidney injury
- Recurrent urinary tract infections
- Recurrent kidney stones
- Long-term exposure to potentially kidney-damaging medicines, including some NSAIDs
The committee specifically recommended annual CKD screening for high-risk individuals, with more detailed assessments where appropriate.
eGFR and Urine Testing Could Become More Important
The parliamentary panel has also called for improvements in how kidney function is assessed.
It recommended that every serum creatinine test performed in public and private diagnostic laboratories should automatically include an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) result, preferably calculated using the CKD-EPI equation.
The committee argued that relying on serum creatinine alone may not be sufficient for detecting kidney disease at an early stage.
For high-risk patients, the panel also recommended urine albumin or protein testing alongside kidney-function assessment.
India Wants to Move From Treatment to Prevention
One of the biggest themes behind the recommendation is a shift in India’s kidney-health strategy.
The parliamentary committee argued that the country cannot rely predominantly on dialysis and kidney transplantation to address its growing CKD burden.
Instead, greater emphasis should be placed on preventing kidney damage, identifying disease early and slowing its progression.
This approach could potentially reduce the number of patients who eventually require kidney replacement therapy.
The committee also recommended a national CKD screening protocol and standardized referral procedures across primary healthcare facilities, including Ayushman Arogya Mandirs.
Young Adults Are Also Becoming a Concern
The recommendation to begin routine kidney testing at age 20 reflects concerns about risk factors emerging earlier in life.
The committee highlighted issues including sedentary lifestyles, undiagnosed hypertension and the indiscriminate use of painkillers among younger people.
These factors can contribute to kidney health problems over time, making early screening potentially important even for people who do not yet consider themselves at risk.
Occupational Kidney Disease Also Gets Attention
The panel also called for targeted screening among agricultural and occupational populations in areas affected by chronic kidney disease of unknown etiology (CKDu).
Parts of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Karnataka were specifically highlighted. The committee noted that heat stress, repeated dehydration and exposure to agrochemicals may contribute to kidney damage among certain occupational groups.
This recommendation reflects a broader understanding that kidney disease is not driven solely by conventional risk factors such as diabetes and high blood pressure.
Digital Healthcare Could Support the Screening Programme
The parliamentary committee has also recommended strengthening the digital infrastructure surrounding CKD care.
Its proposals include an integrated digital framework under the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission, electronic referral pathways, longitudinal patient records and monitoring systems for high-risk individuals.
The panel has also proposed creating a National CKD Registry, which could help authorities monitor disease trends and improve coordination between different levels of healthcare.
A Major Policy Shift for Kidney Health in India
The recommendations form part of the committee’s 177th report, “Prevalence of Chronic Kidney Disease in India – Prevention, Diagnosis, Treatment and Management.” The report contains 66 recommendations covering prevention, early detection, diagnosis, treatment and long-term management of CKD.
It was presented in the Rajya Sabha and laid on the table of the Lok Sabha on August 7, 2026.
The recommendations now place greater emphasis on prevention and systematic screening as India attempts to respond to its growing kidney disease burden.
The Parliamentary Standing Committee’s recommendation for mandatory kidney function tests every six months for everyone aged 20 and above could represent a significant change in India’s public health strategy.
By promoting routine screening, automatic eGFR reporting and additional testing for high-risk groups, the panel wants kidney disease to be detected earlier—before patients reach advanced stages requiring dialysis or transplantation.
However, the proposal is a parliamentary recommendation, not by itself a new nationwide testing requirement. Its implementation would depend on subsequent government action and policy decisions.
The central message from the panel is clear: India needs to detect kidney disease earlier and shift from a treatment-first model toward prevention, regular screening and long-term disease management.
