Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj in hospital after suffering kidney failure

India's Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj addresses the United Nations General Assembly in the Manhattan borough of New York on Sept 26, 2016. PHOTO: REUTERS

NEW DELHI (AFP) - India's Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj said on Wednesday (Nov 16) that she is being treated for kidney failure and undergoing tests for a possible transplant.

Ms 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. Lord Krishna will bless."

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

Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.