HEALTH experts on Wednesday urged the public to undergo early screening to combat chronic kidney disease (CKD), dubbed “a silent condition.” “Most of the kidney problems, patients do not complain of any symptoms, and once they complain about something, they are already late in that situation. So, if we could get patients earlier, then it would be better for our patients' overall outcome,” said Dr. Rey Rosales, treasurer of Diabetes Philippines. Around 7 million Filipinos are said to be at risk of CKD. The disease is a leading cause of dialysis, which imposes a heavy burden not only on patients but also on families and the health care system. “We don’t want to proceed into dialysis,” Rosales stressed, highlighting that prevention is only possible if the disease is caught early. Key to early detection is a urine test called the urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR), which can identify early signs of kidney damage. “If it’s early, we can still prevent it from becoming the worst scenario and, in fact, bring it back to normal,” Rosales explained. He urged Filipinos — especially those with diabetes, hypertension, or a family history of kidney disease — to get tested early. AstraZeneca and Diabetes Philippines, in partnership with Mercury Drug Corp., launched a free screening initiative to combat CKD at Mercury Drug’s Shangri-La Plaza branch in Mandaluyong. Mercury Drug Vice President for Merchandising Cora Lim underscored the firm's commitment to making preventive care accessible. “You don’t need to feel unwell to get checked. Early screening is a simple but powerful step, especially for those with diabetes and hypertension,” Lim said. Meanwhile, Dr. Cyril Tolosa, director of Medical Affairs at AstraZeneca, emphasized that this initiative can help reduce out-of-pocket expenses. “Early kidney screening saves lives, and now it has become more accessible for many more Filipinos,” said Tolosa. In its partnership in the last 2 years, the group was able to screen over 44,000 Filipinos, with around 4 percent testing positive for early kidney damage. Suki cardholders of Mercury Drug may take advantage of the free screening service at select Mercury Drug branches, including Trinoma, Shangri-La Plaza, Pavilion Mall, and Noveleta, Cavite, from Wednesdays to Sundays within the operating hours of the selected branches.