Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj suffers kidney failure

E-Paper | October 01, 2026

Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj suffers kidney failure

AFP Published November 16, 2016

India's Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj said Wednesday that she is being treated for kidney failure and undergoing tests for a possible transplant.

Swaraj, one of India's best-known female politicians and a veteran leader of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), tweeted that she was undergoing dialysis at a private hospital in New Delhi.

“I am in All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) because of kidney failure. Presently, I am on dialysis,” the 64-year-old tweeted from her verified account, which has over 6.5 million followers. “I am undergoing tests for kidney transplant.”

The Press Trust of India news agency said Swaraj, who suffers from chronic diabetes, had been admitted to AIIMS on November 7.

Millions of Indians suffer from kidney disease, mostly because of high rates of diabetes.

But the country has low rates of organ donation and a chronic shortage of organs available for transplant has fuelled a black market.

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Shahid

Nov 16, 2016 11:18am

Prayers for your good health from Pakistan. Get well soon.

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Subcontinental

Nov 16, 2016 11:19am

The best minister in Modi government. Very humane. Helped many. Hope she recovers and be back at work helping those who need help.

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Naveed

Nov 16, 2016 11:20am

Get well soon madam, prayers from a Pakistani.

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Sheraz

Nov 16, 2016 11:27am

Get well soon..! Without your robust statements, Pakistani and Indian media will definitely go out of business.

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Umair

Nov 16, 2016 11:27am

I wish her quick recovery. She seems like a really nice person.

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Chanakya

Nov 16, 2016 11:28am

Indian medical facilities are capable enough to save it's foreign minister.

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ali

Nov 16, 2016 11:29am

aims is not private hospital ,it government hospital and is best hospital in India

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syed wasim haider

Nov 16, 2016 11:31am

We,Pakistanis pray for your complete recovery.Get well soon.

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Bipin

Nov 16, 2016 11:32am

Dear readers AIIMS is an government hospital.

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Kidney Doner

Nov 16, 2016 12:00pm

Dear Dawn, I'm ready to donate her one of my kidney. We need people like Sushma to have faith in democracy.

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D K P

Nov 16, 2016 12:13pm

My prayer to God for her speedy recovery after transplantation, if needed.

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qamberali

Nov 16, 2016 12:15pm

wish you a healthy return to normal life

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A Shah

Nov 16, 2016 12:18pm

God bless you ma'am, India needs you.

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Nov 16, 2016 12:21pm

@Kidney Doner. Good, But donate your kidney who is more needy and poor. Sushma Swaraj can get it easily help those one who are needy more then her.

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Arslan

Nov 16, 2016 12:28pm

We pray for her healthy recovery.

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luke

Nov 16, 2016 12:29pm

She is a humble and active do-gooder......Good luck and good health madam....

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Khan

Nov 16, 2016 12:36pm

Get well soon.

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Feroz

Nov 16, 2016 12:45pm

Get well soon !

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Changez Khan

Nov 16, 2016 01:04pm

Wish her the best of health.

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naqeeb

Nov 16, 2016 01:14pm

Get well soon. Best minister ever i have seen!! from Pak

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Namo

Nov 16, 2016 01:18pm

Nice to see get well wishes from our neighbours.

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Aslam shah

Nov 16, 2016 01:21pm

Get well soon, Good wishes from Pakistan.

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Kyaukhaadlega

Nov 16, 2016 01:22pm

Look at the wonderful comments here from Pakistan. I'm sure Indians would have to say something similarly nice if it was a Pakistani minister. Such a wonderful hearts we have for each other.

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OSO

Nov 16, 2016 01:24pm

Prayers to you

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Akram

Nov 16, 2016 01:27pm

Modi should donate kidney

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Subcontinental

Nov 16, 2016 01:52pm

She is the minister that anyone can turn for help. Someone even tweeted to her, complaining about his fridge not working! She did not lose her cool, but advised him to contact his mechanic. Very articulate, both in Hindi and English. A minister who does her homework. Despite her ailment, she has been working diligently, gracefully and with dignity, while many of her colleagues get more publicity, some even get credit for the work she does behind the scenes! Overwhelmed at the manner in which get-well wishes are flying from across the border. Love you, my Pakistani brothers and sisters!

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ajit

Nov 16, 2016 02:04pm

I see very positive response from pakistani people.This mindset should be with every human being.we ordinary people from both the countries are suffering because of some of the politicians and anti social elements

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Asif A. Shah

Nov 16, 2016 02:12pm

I do not subscribe to BJP's policies towards the Kashmiri people. However, I do wish Ms. Sushma Swaraj speedy recovery. Good luck!

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Sagar Doshi Indian

Nov 16, 2016 02:31pm

Such a wonderful comments from Pakistani friends. Thank you all. Pray for her speedy and healthy recovery. She is a very helpful and kind politician.

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Shabbir Kazmi

Nov 16, 2016 02:45pm

Wish her recovery.

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CIVI

Nov 16, 2016 03:04pm

get well soon

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Nomi

Nov 16, 2016 03:27pm

May she recovers soon. Ameen

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Harmony-1©

Nov 16, 2016 03:28pm

@Chanakya - Was there any doubt that you had to reassure the readers?

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IMTIAZ ALI KHAN

Nov 16, 2016 03:42pm

Above all we are all humans, so I do pray that Almighty give you the best of health and you recover very fast.

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IMTIAZ ALI KHAN

Nov 16, 2016 03:54pm

@ajit Humanity is first and we can relate with her too because she is our kind you know Desi. God give her a speedy recovery.

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Nov 16, 2016 03:55pm

Very surprising that Indian media hasn't blamed this on Pakistan as well... ;-)

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farjee

Nov 16, 2016 03:58pm

@Chanakya ooohh man .. I hope doctors have the same confidence as you have... Get well soon madam... you are working hard for your nation... hope we get that committed politicians on our side as well..

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Tejaswi Sharma

Nov 16, 2016 04:00pm

She is a valuable leader for country. she is in good hands. AIIMS is not only renowned in India but also all over the world for its doctors and specialialities. She will be fine.

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J Abid

Nov 16, 2016 04:01pm

Prayers for her recovery. Amen!

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shankar

Nov 16, 2016 04:10pm

My Pakistani friends, thank you so much for your kind words and wishes for our minister! This is the true friendly face of Pakistan Indians will love and respect! God bless you all!

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Muhammad

Nov 16, 2016 04:12pm

We all wish speedy recovery and good health for the minister.It is great that she preferred treatment in her own country.

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Sabba Ali

Nov 16, 2016 04:13pm

A very softhearted leader. Well connected to Pakistanis and Indians.

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ant

Nov 16, 2016 04:24pm

From Pakistan we wish her recovery

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REHMAN

Nov 16, 2016 04:30pm

Wish her a speedy recovery

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syed zafar kazm

Nov 16, 2016 04:32pm

The outpouring of well wishing from Pakistan for an adversary is amazing and highly welcome. It speaks volumes about the class and character of common man from this country and I proudly wish to add my own feeble voice to this chorus of well wishers for quick recovery of Ms. Sushma Swaraj. Amen

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SHAHZ

Nov 16, 2016 04:37pm

Between Pakistan and India hatered is courtesy political and mafia religious groups, very few at individual level . At grass roots, we share common humble values and respect each other. Fine example is outside the subcontinent

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irshad

Nov 16, 2016 04:46pm

All my prayers for Sushma;Get well soon

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Harmony-2

Nov 16, 2016 04:49pm

@Kyaukhaadlega Any time when Pakistani foreign ( fortunately the seat is vacant ) Minister falls ill with the sane disease, we will definitely pray for him.

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Honest guy.

Nov 16, 2016 05:13pm

She is in govt. Hospital and not private as mentioned in the report. AIIMS is a world renowned govt. hospital in New Delhi.

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Honest guy.

Nov 16, 2016 05:15pm

@Asif A. Shah : You are way off the mark. I request you to kindly first go through the subject you are commenting upon and it's context.

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Abdul Aziz Khan

Nov 16, 2016 05:17pm

Apart from politics, humane issue is humane. Not me, but all Pakistanis wish Hon"able Sushma Sawaraj a very very quick recovery from her illness.

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Rizwan

Nov 16, 2016 05:30pm

Sad news but prayers n goodwill wishes can help overcome this challenge. Wish her and all others challenged with health issues, best regards, get well soon wishes and speedy recovery. Look forward to seeing her visit Pakistan in near future. She is heck of a graceful foreign minister with a kind heart.

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Ramesh NG

Nov 16, 2016 05:57pm

My Pakistani brothers & Sisters - thanks for your best wishes

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mohammed

Nov 16, 2016 06:17pm

Hope you recover soon. May the Almighty give you health and strength.A well wisher from Johannesburg

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optimistic

Nov 16, 2016 06:38pm

Prayers from Pakistan for your good health.

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Leo

Nov 16, 2016 07:04pm

Thanks to the friends from Pakistan for their good wishes!

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Sympathiser

Nov 16, 2016 07:06pm

Very sad to hear this... She is a very well known and popular leader of India. I pray God, she gets well soon

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APK

Nov 16, 2016 07:13pm

She is the best Foreign Minister that india had ever produced. May god bless her. Wishing her a speedy recovery. Get well soon. Prayers.

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Haider

Nov 16, 2016 07:19pm

Get Well Soon Sushma Jee! Hope to see you back in action soon...LOVE from Pakistan!

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arun

Nov 16, 2016 07:50pm

absolutely generous comments touched by all of you from Pakistan. Warmly Arun

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selva

Nov 16, 2016 07:52pm

Honestly Thanking Pakistan people for the get well wishes.

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Ali

Nov 16, 2016 08:17pm

The people of Pakistan wish Sushma Swaraj speedy recovery and good health. We admire her for getting treatment in India, unlike our leaders who want treatment overseas at government expense, even if they catch flu. Leaders should use public money wisely and be fully accountable.

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Wajahat Hussain

Nov 16, 2016 08:19pm

Prayers from a common Pakistani that she gets well soon.

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Farhan Kermani

Nov 16, 2016 08:45pm

Get well soon Ms Sushma. God speed recovery.

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TAF

Nov 16, 2016 09:37pm

Get well soon.take care

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Abc

Nov 16, 2016 10:54pm

AIIMS is government hospital.

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Humsaya

Nov 16, 2016 11:16pm

Thanks for your overwhelming well wishes. Really nice and heart warming. Long live humanity!

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hary

Nov 17, 2016 02:16am

so nice to see so many pakistanis wishing sushmaji..god bless her and all who wished her for her good health.

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Malik

Nov 17, 2016 02:43am

As a Pakistani well wisher, I wish you a speedy recovery. I remember how elegant you looked on your last visit to Islamabad.

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Siraj Syed From USA

Nov 17, 2016 04:44am

Nothing so dangerous. She will live her normal life. In modern medical technology there are machine which can be kept in the house and used twice a week under the guidance of a nurse. But we all wish her a long and happy life.

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aslam shaikh1

Nov 17, 2016 05:09pm

I am sure a BJP follower will donate his kidneys, else blame your neighbor.

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Rkhan

Nov 18, 2016 03:48pm

May you have speedy recovery ma'am. A true Symbol of humanity . Lots of Pray from Pakistan.

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techscribe

Nov 19, 2016 09:55am

There were so many people on Twitter who offered her their kidney, some of them Indian Muslims. I am so proud of Sushma as well as my Indian brothers.

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