March 20, 2026
Conversations on women’s safety in India often focus on streets and public spaces. But access to safe, private toilets is just as important, and often overlooked.
In his Hindustan Times column, Vital Signs, OHT’s Dr. Ramanan Laxminarayan draws attention to a lesser-known health issue, the link between limited access to sanitation and kidney stones in women.
Kidney stones are more likely to develop when the body is dehydrated. For many women, especially before the expansion of household toilets under the Swachh Bharat Mission, a nationwide effort by the Government of India to eliminate open defecation, drinking enough water wasn’t always practical. Without safe toilets, many chose to drink less or delay using the bathroom to avoid discomfort, embarrassment, or risk.
Over time, these coping strategies can lead to concentrated urine, increasing the risk of painful kidney stones.
It’s a reminder that sanitation is not just about preventing infections. It also influences everyday choices that have long-term health consequences.
As Dr. Laxminarayan notes, improving sanitation means going beyond infrastructure. It requires ensuring safety, privacy, and dignity, so women can make healthier choices in their daily lives. “Women’s access to secure sanitation, therefore, cannot be separated from health policy. When sanitation systems are designed with safety, privacy, and accessibility in mind, they do more than protect dignity. They shape the daily habits that determine health.”
Read it here.
