Nephrology
The Division of Pediatric Nephrology at the Institute of Child Health (ICH), Kolkata, is a premier center for excellence in treating kidney diseases in children. Established in 1986 by the late Prof. (Dr.) G.K. Mehrotra, the department has evolved from a small outpatient clinic into a leading pediatric nephrology hub in Eastern India.
Today, we offer a comprehensive 16-bed inpatient unit, including a specialized 3-bed hemodialysis suite and dedicated PICU support for acute kidney therapies. Our multidisciplinary team provides round-the-clock expert care, ranging from routine specialized clinics to advanced life-support interventions.
Our Expert Faculty:
Led by Prof. (Dr.) Rajiv Sinha, our clinical team consists of highly qualified specialists dedicated to pediatric renal health:
Prof. (Dr.) Rajiv Sinha (HOD): MBBS, MD Pediatrics, CCT Pediatric Nephrology
Prof. (Dr.) Shakil Akhtar: MBBS, MD Pediatrics
Dr. Deblina Dasgupta: MBBS, MD Pediatrics, FNB Pediatric Nephrology
Dr. Sanjukta Poddar: MBBS, MD Pediatrics, FISPN
Advanced Pediatric Renal Services:
We provide a full spectrum of diagnostic and therapeutic services for complex kidney conditions:
Dialysis Therapies: Intermittent Hemodialysis, SLED, and CKRT (CRRT).
Advanced Procedures: Therapeutic Plasma Exchange, Kidney Biopsies, and Vascular Catheter Insertion.
Kidney Transplantation: Comprehensive care including pre-transplant workup, transplant surgery, and post-transplant follow-up.
Acute Support: Peritoneal Dialysis (Acute and Chronic).
Clinical Excellence & Patient Volume (2025-2026):
Our department maintains a high clinical load, reflecting our role as a regional referral center:
IPD Admissions: 2,427 patients with a 95.6% bed occupancy rate.
Hemodialysis (HD) Sessions: 2,026 procedures performed.
Kidney Biopsies: 81 procedures.
Transplantation: 3 successful transplants with 13 active workups/follow-ups.
Research and Global Partnerships:
The department is at the forefront of medical research and international collaboration:
ISN-SRC Programme: A prestigious "Sister Renal Center" partnership with Birmingham Children’s Hospital, UK, supported by the International Society of Nephrology. This collaboration focuses on nephrogenetics, renal nutrition, and staff exchanges to improve patient outcomes.
Ongoing Research: We are currently leading multicenter studies on Pediatric Lupus Nephritis, Alport Syndrome, and the progression of Acute Kidney Injury.
Academic Output: In 2025 alone, our faculty published multiple high-impact papers in Pediatric Nephrology and Clinical Rheumatology regarding genomics and kidney replacement therapies in LMICs.
Education and Training
Since 2015, we have hosted a one-year Fellowship Course in Pediatric Nephrology under the Indian Society of Pediatric Nephrology (ISPN). We also host major annual events, such as the Nephrogenetic Update and Acute Care Nephrology Workshops, featuring global experts.