Pirkanmaa to offer free chronic kidney screening to all 65-year-olds in 2026
Pirkanmaa will offer free screening for chronic kidney disease to all 65‑year‑olds, with blood and urine tests starting in September; invitations will be mailed and sent via Suomi.fi where possible.
Tamperelainen reports that the screening, due to begin in September, will use blood and urine tests. Invitations will be mailed and, where possible, delivered through the Suomi.fi service. The Pirkanmaa wellbeing services county confirmed the plans.
The expansion follows a 2024–2025 pilot targeting 55‑year‑olds that uncovered hidden signs of kidney disease in hundreds of participants. That effort increased diagnosis rates and sped the start of treatment in primary care. "Early detection of chronic kidney disease is crucial so its progression can be influenced in time," said Satu Mäkelä, chief physician of nephrology at the Pirkanmaa wellbeing services county, in a press release.
Participation in the pilot is voluntary. Officials are encouraging people in higher‑risk groups, including those with diabetes, high blood pressure or cardiovascular disease, to take part. The pilot will also test which age group yields the most effective screening results, informing longer‑term preventive health measures in Pirkanmaa.
Catch the full story over at Tamperelainen
