On July 12, 2025, MOHAN Foundation and the Network and Alliance of Transplant Coordinators (NATCO) organized a masterclass on “Home Dialysis – Possibilities and Challenges” for members of NephroPlus and dialysis patients. The session featured Dr. Mala Sachdeva, Professor of Medicine, Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, and Faculty, Division of Kidney Diseases and Hypertension, Northwell Health System, and Mr. Kamal Shah, Co-Founder, NephroPlus, TDx Speaker, and author, who has been on dialysis for 28 years. The session was moderated by Ms. Pallavi Kumar, Executive Director, MOHAN Foundation NCR.
The masterclass explored global experiences and successful models that have made home dialysis a viable and effective option in many countries while examining the practical challenges unique to the Indian context. Participants also heard a first-hand account from an Indian patient sharing their journey with home dialysis, highlighting successes, challenges, and lessons for others considering this treatment option. Designed for a broad audience—including doctors, nurses, caregivers, and dialysis patients—the session offered insights to help healthcare professionals and support networks guide patients and families effectively.
Dr. Mala provided a comprehensive overview of home dialysis modalities, explaining the types, benefits, and challenges of peritoneal dialysis (CAPD, APD) and home hemodialysis (short daily or nocturnal). She emphasized that choices depend on a patient’s lifestyle, medical needs, and preferences, and detailed the training and technical setups required for these modalities. Highlighting improved quality of life, greater independence, better dietary freedom, and reduced travel and time burdens compared to in-center dialysis, she also discussed incremental peritoneal dialysis as a patient-friendly approach that adjusts to residual kidney function, allowing a gentler and more sustainable transition to dialysis.
Key points covered by Dr. Mala:
• Overview of home dialysis modalities
• Patient-centered decision-making
• Benefits of home dialysis
• Training and technical requirements
• Incremental peritoneal dialysis
Mr. Kamal Shah shared his personal journey with kidney failure in India, emphasizing the stark differences in how home dialysis is approached compared to developed countries. Diagnosed with atypical HUS in 1997, he underwent hospital-based hemodialysis, a failed transplant, six years of peritoneal dialysis, and later transitioned to daily nocturnal home hemodialysis. He highlighted how patients in India often “crash land” into kidney failure without early diagnosis or counseling about options like PD or home hemodialysis. Praising PD for its flexibility, needle-free treatment, travel ease, and quality of life despite infection challenges, he noted the poor adoption of PD in India due to lack of awareness, training, and patient reluctance. After an infection forced him off PD, he switched to home hemodialysis, which offered longer, gentler, and more frequent sessions, significantly improving his health and lifestyle. His experience underscored the urgent need for better patient education and informed choice in India’s dialysis care landscape.
Participants raised questions, including:
• Which is more efficient in solute clearance: HD (Hemodialysis) or CAPD (Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis)?
• How are patients selected for CAPD versus HD?
• How can patients identify catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSI) in peritoneal dialysis?
Close to 30 participants attended the webinar, gaining valuable insights into the potential of home dialysis to improve patient outcomes and quality of life in India.
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