JAKARTA, SEPTEMBER 14, 2025 – EMC Grha Kedoya Hospital together Always Healthy Kidney Community (GSS) Today held a seminar and GSS reunion entitled Kidney, High Blood Pressure & Traditional Medicine in Multifunction Room EMC Grha Kedoya Hospital. This seminar presented Dr. Med. Salim Lim, MD.Sp.PD-KGH, FAMS, FASN, Internal Medicine Specialist-Kidney Hypertension Consultant from EMC Grha Kedoya Hospital and was moderated by Dr. Raymond PA M.Kes.AAAM as Deputy Chair of GSS.
Dr. Med Salim Lim, MD.Sp.PD-KGH, FAMS, FASN, on this occasion, provided comprehensive education on how to detect kidney disease early, including its characteristics, and its treatment. He stated that in the early stages, most kidney disease patients do not have typical symptoms, so the disease is often detected late. Early symptoms of kidney disease can be characterized by foamy urine, especially if it persists for several minutes, due to protein (proteinuria) leaking from the kidneys into the urine due to damage to the kidney filters (glomeruli).
"Three-quarters (¾) of kidney failure cases are caused by three diseases, namely Diabetes, Hypertension and Glomerulonephritis. If kidney failure due to diabetes and hypertension usually occurs in adults over the age of 40 years. Kidney failure due to glomerulonephritis can occur in young people under the age of 40 years because the symptoms are not typical such as foamy urine so it is often discovered too late." said Dr. Salim Lim. He further said, "Other causes of kidney failure can be due to kidney stones, infections, insufficient drinking, cancer, heart disease, liver disease, genetics (polycystic kidney disease), and side effects of certain medications, especially painkillers, herbal/Chinese medicines, or traditional medicines. Long-term or high-dose use of NSAID pain relievers, especially in patients who already have kidney disease, can worsen kidney function or even trigger kidney failure."
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Likewise, some traditional/herbal medicines, as well as Chinese remedies, can cause kidney failure and even trigger urinary tract cancer. People with kidney disease are strictly prohibited from consuming starfruit due to its caramboxin toxin content, which can cause hiccups, coma, and convulsions, which can be fatal.
Meanwhile Dr. Raymond PA M.Kes.AAAM disclose, "This time, we at GSS, in collaboration with EMC Grha Kedoya Hospital, want to provide education through seminars to our community members, so that they can obtain information, share sessions, and also as a place to meet up with our members from all over Indonesia." This is in line with GSS's mission as a non-profit social community that was founded in 2019 with the aim of helping fellow kidney failure patients, both in the form of moral and financial guidance.
Martin Budi Ilham (deceased), founder of GSS, once said that in the kidney health sector, there are many adventurers who seek profit by selling drugs, supplements, and various other methods, including kidney brokers who offer fantastic prices that patients in desperate situations will still pay whatever price. In managing GSS activities, he did not collect a single cent from GSS members and did not discuss politics or SARA (ethnicity, religion, race, and intergroup relations). GSS provides education to members so that they can care for their kidneys so they last longer and can overcome anxiety and confusion, not being trapped by parties who want to profit from the patient's condition. At GSS, members can also share experiences and daily healthy lifestyles.
This event is not only carried out in person offline from EMC Grha Kedoya Hospital which was attended by hundreds of participants consisting of GSS members, management and patients of EMC Grha Kedoya Hospital, as well as media colleagues, this public seminar was also conducted in a hybrid/virtual manner through live streaming on the channel EMC Hospital Youtube So that it reaches a wider audience for participants who live outside Jabodetabek.
Treatment for kidney disease includes healthy lifestyle changes such as diet, exercise, controlling blood pressure, blood sugar, and weight, quitting smoking, and regularly taking medications to manage other medical conditions as recommended by a doctor. If these treatments are ineffective and the patient develops kidney failure, treatment options include dialysis (either hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis) and kidney transplantation. Kidney failure can only be completely cured in cases of acute kidney failure if treated promptly and appropriately by a specialist, as the kidney damage is not permanent.