Global Policy and Advocacy Initiatives for Improving Kidney Care: Report from the 2023 ISN-GKHA Study

Background: National strategies to address chronic kidney disease (CKD) are crucial to support kidney health. Lack of political support in the form of policy decisions and funding leads to fragmentation of kidney care and catastrophic health expenditure. This study used data from the third iteration of the International Society of Nephrology Global Kidney Health Atlas (ISN-GKHA) to obtain a global overview of the existence and reach of national strategies for kidney care.

Methods: We leveraged data from an international survey of stakeholders (clinicians, policymakers, and patient advocates) conducted by the ISN between July and September 2022. Data were extracted on existence and scope of national non-communicable disease (NCD) and/or CKD-specific strategies and policies, as well as recognition of kidney disease as a national health priority through participant perception and existence of CKD advocacy groups.

Results: Overall, stakeholders from 167 countries responded to the survey representing 97.4% of the global population. National strategies for NCDs were reported by 56% of countries. In 29% of countries CKD was addressed within an NCD strategy while 25% of countries reported CKD-specific strategies. Countries with CKD-specific strategies were more likely to address all CKD populations (non-dialysis dependent CKD, chronic dialysis and kidney transplantation) compared to those with NCD strategies only (51.2% versus 19%). Of the 54% of countries with any CKD strategy 89% reported public funding of the full spectrum of CKD care compared to 64% of those with no CKD strategy. KF, CKD and AKI were reported to be recognized as national health priorities by 63%, 48% and 19% of countries respectively.

Conclusions: The inclusion of CKD and kidney failure within national health strategies is frequently lacking. Countries with CKD-specific policies tend to include a broader spectrum of kidney disease populations and to fund kidney care more than those with CKD policies integrated within NCD strategies. Greater global and national prioritization of kidney health are required to reduce global inequities in access to kidney care.