KIDNEY disease is a silent killer since it will not display any early warning signs or symptoms until at a later stage, when it’s too late. This disease affects 15.48% of the general population in Malaysia and approximately 10% of the global population.
Some types of kidney disease can be treated, depending on the underlying cause. However, there is no cure for chronic kidney disease (CKD); only treatment such as dialysis can help relieve the symptoms and stop it getting worse.
Dialysis, a treatment that filters and purifies the blood using a machine, will help to keep fluids and electrolytes in balance when the kidneys fail to do their job.
And of course, treating kidney disease comes with a hefty price tag. According to a study, annual public spending on end-stage chronic kidney disease in Malaysia was RM1.12 bil in 2016, a surged of 94% from RM572 mil in 2010.
Therefore, this is seen as a revenue stream for many. Over the years, there have been multiple claims made by pharmaceutical individuals and others in the medical line about products that can prevent kidney disease or cure it. When in despair, kidney patients or their family members will fall for such products.
Recently, there is a viral social media post promoting a product to cure kidney disease, which was said to be endorsed by the National Kidney Foundation of Malaysia (NKF).
The said post which has been circulating on social media promotes Jisheng Kidney Qi Tablets as a cure for kidney disease without dialysis.
The National Kidney Foundation of Malaysia (NKF) was alerted of this scam when members of the public contacted the organisation to enquire about the legitimacy of the product.
“We are shocked and appalled by distasteful claims made by a viral social media post attempting to promote a product to cure kidney disease,” NKF said in a statement.
Further investigations led to the viral post which included a tempered photo of NKF Malaysia that was taken at an event titled Anda Pam, Kami Derma – a campaign held during the 2019 Hari Raya festive season in collaboration with SHELL Malaysia.
In the social media posting, the wordings on the banner held in a group photo between NKF and SHELL Malaysia were replaced with the words ‘No dialysis required. Completely cure kidney disease’.
According to NKF, there is no known cure for CKD to date, but there are treatments that can help, in addition to receiving an organ transplant.
“We take such scams very seriously, especially one which is portrayed to be endorsed by NKF. We would like to reiterate that we do not endorse products that claim it can cure kidney disease, especially ones promoted by external links which are not related to NKF,” NKF Malaysia’s chairman Datuk Dr Zaki Morad Mohamad Zaher stressed.
NKF further called on irresponsible parties to stop promoting such scams − preying on a patient’s emotional and mental state of health − especially during trying times like this as our country battles the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
“It is a very irresponsible thing to do and promoting scams like this is unethical and immoral.
A report has been lodged by NKF and they will work closely with all relevant authorities and take stern action against those responsible for this.
Also, as a blanket statement, the Health Ministry (MOH) had released a list of health conditions and diseases that no food, medicine, device or service can advertise to supposedly fix 20 diseases which include kidney disease.
Meanwhile, Dr Zaki advised the public to verify such claims either with their doctors or NKF first.
For credible information about kidney disease, treatment options, medication and to get the latest updates, do visit NKF’s official website at www.nkf.org.my or send an email to [email protected]. – May 21, 2021
