It is known that, for many reasons, general practitioners(GPs) find renal disease difficult to diagnose, understandand treat. The terms chronic kidney disease (CKD) andglomerular filtration rate (GFR), representing the renalfunction equation, have been introduced to clarify someof these difficulties. Unfortunately, even these pivotal concepts remaineither unknown or poorly understood by the majority of GPs in SouthAfrica (SA). CKD is often not recognised because there are no specificsymptoms, and not diagnosed or only diagnosed at an advanced stage.Tests for CKD are, however, simple and freely available.