Kidney Warriors Foundation (KWF) was the vision of an individual, who had to face many challenges and recognized the need for a unified voice that would address every apprehension faced by a kidney patient. She invited people from 12 States to give it an All India status. KWF was founded on 20 Dec 2017, by these strong-willed family members and patients, who wanted to bring a change, having lived with this disease or having seen CKD from close quarters. KWF is a community that supports each other and raises a unified voice, to get the recognition it warrants. KWF is currently one of the largest independent India-based networks of kidney patients, caregivers, healthcare professionals, and social workers who have voluntarily signed up to make a difference in the lives of people affected by kidney disease. It continues to grow, as they collaborate with other NGOs, working with similar objectives.

On 2nd  April 2015, our group opened on Facebook to offer emotional support and basic information on kidney disease so that kidney patients facing the disease can learn to manage the disease without being overwhelmed by the enormity of the disease. Soon patients freely discussed much of their life and health and shared their financial issues and social pressures. They had faced isolation and were unwilling to speak about their health. Our group encouraged good interactions that enabled them to make the right decisions. We realized that we had a serious role to play, as patients were struggling and ready to collapse. It was important to start an APEX organization for India to cater to needs across the country. Kidney Warriors Foundation was formed on 20th December 2017, and registered under the Companies Act 2013 as an NGO. Sixteen individuals signed the MOA representing Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Punjab, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, and Uttarakhand.

• Indian healthcare needs from the middle-income groups surfaced. Our aim is to get them to accept and manage disease with some financial aid. So small schemes were started to provide medicines to the jobless, emergency injections when HB goes low, protein supplements to under-nourished patients, part payment for fistula surgeries and transplants
• Founder’s funding is Rs 10 lakhs on seminars, books, website & promotions and donations of approx. Rs 18 lakhs
• From 2017- 2021 through internal fund generation & pharma support projects worth Rs 30.08 lakhs were funded
• In January 2021, we launched the Public Private Partnership for Patients. Patients in dire need, who couldn’t manage to pay for medicines/ dialysis were gathered from across India so they could receive Rs 1000 for 6 months. In July 2021 we kicked off a project for kids with Acute Kidney Injury so kids in ICU were saved from permanent kidney damage with a payment of Rs 50,000
• Our book, "The Kidney Warriors" with 56 inspiring stories was published to help patients get motivated to plan and manage disease
• The "Nutritional Secrets," a bible on a renal diet, gives detailed information on what, why, and how much food must be consumed when kidneys are compromised. The book is available online in major Indian languages
• Kidney patients are not eligible for insurance. On dialysis Rs, 2.40 lakhs pa – Rs 7.20 lakhs pa for 5 years is Rs 12-36 lakhs without emergency hospitalization, or repeat fistula surgeries. Transplant is Rs 7.5 lakhs - Rs 30 lakhs. Our 2022 pilot of “almost insurance” can become a model for Government’s consideration. Our work generates HOPE for patients
• Our focus is to help lower and middle-income groups with medicines, help kids with acute kidney injury, and will develop a model that can be adopted by the Government as special insurance to reduce the financial burden among patients. Our financial and emotional work generates HOPE for patients.

Kidney Warriors Foundation (KWF), is uniquely endowed to work for Kidney Patient Advocacy. It is the only recognized organization that is represented by patients and caregivers with a charter completely recognizing patients’ needs. We know, and understand kidney patients, their needs that range from medical, financial, and emotional to social issues that make us responsible to improve living conditions and treatments for patients.

Today, the world over people dying of non-communicable disease is the 9th cause of death. Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) has grown in leaps and bounds. While annually about 250,000 people get added to CKD, many people can't get treated due to lack of facilities, poor understanding, and acceptance of the disease, also they drop out of treatments. People on dialysis die from poor health management. Life-saving transplants are low as willing donors are few and deceased donor transplants have long wait lists. 

KWF is India's largest online patient group and is managed by volunteers. We urgently need a fully structured organization to speedily attend to patients' urgent requests. Patients/caregivers taking the lead position to bring the change needed in the healthcare system.We work to motivate patients and educate them about the disease but their financial needs are partially met through discounts for laboratory tests. We need to empower patients with employment for meeting medical expenses with dignity and reduce the impact on the mental health of patients. Our small financial help is pocket money for medicines that few enjoy. The government has created health care at rural and at district levels to help the poor, but KWF notices a growing need to reduce the financial burden among patients at middle-income levels.

What do patients need?

• Good, low-cost treatments, medicines, and tests
• Insurance
• Employment
• Matrimony for some

Why is the cost so important?

• For CKD medical expenses are lifelong
• Property and valuables are sold for medical bills 
• Families are destroyed due to the financial drain, and marriages break-up
• Patients are considered a burden left isolated
• Mental health and burnout are high

In 2017, we did educational seminars in Bangalore, Pune, Hyderabad, Chennai, Delhi, Chandigarh, Cochin, Kolkata, and Jaipur. Nephrologists spoke about good dialysis, better treatment options, dialysis vs transplant, cadaver transplants, and diet for all stages of kidney disease. During COVID we organized webinars on many relevant topics; how to manage COVID by proper protection; vaccination for dialysis and transplant patients.

Patient advocacy is the need of the hour. Patient Advocacy work: 

• Suggesting improvements in organ donation laws
• To understand adequacy for salt consumption among kids since emerging data show a higher rate of youth coming into non-communicable diseases
• KWF works with over 22 organizations for front-of-pack warning labels on Ultra Processed Foods.