Access to Kidney Care for All

On #WorldKidneyDay, and every day, we celebrate kidney patients and the healthcare professionals that care for them. We’re proud to support the WKD initiative and join the international nephrology community in advocating for kidney care for all.

There are about 850 million people globally with kidney disease; we estimate nearly 10 million of them have reached end-stage kidney disease and require dialysis or transplant.[i] Yet, only a fraction of them currently have access to care. From the earliest stages of chronic kidney disease, when care can be managed with medications and lifestyle changes through dialysis and, hopefully, to transplant, we are committed to helping people gain access to care.

As part of our dedication to access to kidney care for all, we’ve made a commitment to double the number of patients reached?in underserved markets by 2030. These markets are often the hardest to reach with limited local resources, yet the most in need of kidney care.

Our commitment also calls on us to have a greater focus on the unique needs of kidney patients during the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic. Even with the number of cases going down in some countries, kidney patients have immune dysfunction and comorbidities that put them at a heightened risk of contracting the virus.[ii]?The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way these patients view the world. But between the challenges has emerged a strong resilience and path forward through home care options. Advocating for patients’ access to home care is vital to empowering them to live their best lives; #HopeStartsAtHome.

It’s complicated; access to care is often unique by region and country. We believe it starts with advocacy, includes education and requires insight-driven innovation. Most importantly, it requires collaboration. We’re committed to working with providers, nephrology societies, patient organizations and policy makers around the world to make this happen because it takes a village to support kidney care for all.

[i] More than 850 Million Worldwide Have Some Form of Kidney Disease: Help Raise Awareness; www.theins.org. Blog. Nov. 27, 2020. Accessed Feb. 2022

[ii] Tabinor, M. et al. “End-stage kidney disease patients from ethnic minorities and mortality in coronavirus disease 2019” Hemodialysis International, Aug. 10, 2021. DOI: 10.1111/hdi. 12976