Over 200,000 Singapore residents have been newly identified with signs of impaired kidney function over a four-year span. In response, the Ministry of Health (MOH) has tapped approximately 1,000 Healthier SG clinics outside the public healthcare sector to monitor and care for these patients.
This strategic expansion aims to prevent the condition from worsening, which officials warn could otherwise lead to a significant surge in the nation’s dialysis burden.
A Significant Rise in Prevalence
According to the latest National Population Health Survey (NPHS) released by MOH in October 2025, the age-standardized prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) among residents aged 18 to 74 rose to 13.9 per cent between 2023 and 2024.
This figure represents a nearly 60 per cent increase compared to the 8.7 per cent recorded from 2019 to 2020. While MOH stated the increase was “not statistically significant,” the absolute number of people requiring care continues to grow.
Health Minister Ong Ye Kung noted in March 2026 that while the prevalence of high blood pressure and diabetes has remained broadly stable, the absolute number of CKD cases is rising as the population ages and becomes more susceptible to the disease.
The Challenge of “Silent” Progression
CKD is characterized by irreversible damage to the kidneys and a gradual loss of filtering ability, typically driven by risk factors like diabetes and hypertension. A critical challenge in management is that the disease is largely asymptomatic until it reaches end-stage kidney failure.
Dr. Jonathan Yeo, a director of Family Medicine Clinic Chinatown, warned that many patients erroneously believe that a lack of symptoms, or the absence of “pain in the kidneys or the back,” means they are healthy.
Dr. Yeo emphasized that patients often view chronic conditions as stand-alone issues, failing to realize that poor control of blood pressure or blood sugar can weaken kidney function. By the time significant damage is noticed, it is often no longer reversible.
Expanding the Care Network
Since 2017, MOH has utilized the Holistic Approach in Lowering and Tracking Chronic Kidney Disease (HALT-CKD) programme in public healthcare institutions. As of March 2024, this programme had enrolled more than 110,000 patients, with over 80 per cent receiving kidney-protective medications.
To expand this reach, MOH introduced a uniform care protocol for general practitioners (GPs) in January 2025. This protocol consolidates key principles, allowing GPs to manage mild and moderate cases and refer complex cases to specialists more effectively.
As of February 2026, there were approximately 1,100 Healthier SG clinics. For those with diabetes and hypertension, annual kidney assessments are now mandatory under Healthier SG recommended care.
Potential Systemic Implications
The scale of the current health burden is substantial. Dr. Jason Choo, medical director of the National Kidney Foundation (NKF), estimated that the total number of residents with CKD may have reached 500,000.
Dr. Choo warned that if even a small proportion—such as 5 per cent—of these 500,000 patients progress to kidney failure, it could result in 25,000 new patients requiring dialysis. This would be more than double the 10,000 people currently on dialysis in Singapore.
MOH has stated it will continue to review the effectiveness of CKD care through Healthier SG GPs over the next few years. Future outcomes may depend on the success of community screening efforts, such as those currently conducted by NKF across more than 200 GP clinics.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)?
CKD is a long-term condition involving irreversible damage to the kidneys, leading to a gradual loss of their ability to filter blood. It is usually caused by risk factors such as diabetes and hypertension.
Why is early detection of CKD so demanding?
The disease is largely asymptomatic, meaning patients often feel healthy and experience no pain until they reach end-stage kidney failure.
How does the HALT-CKD programme help patients?
The programme focuses on slowing the progression of the disease through monitoring and the use of kidney-protective medications, including sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors.
Do you believe mandatory annual screenings for high-risk groups are the most effective way to combat “silent” chronic diseases?
