Kidney Research UK calls for UK Government to support WHO resolution on kidney disease
Kidney Research UK, together with the UK Kidney Association and other kidney charities, is calling for the UK Government to support a World Health Organisation (WHO) resolution on kidney disease.
The resolution ‘Reducing the burden of non-communicable disease through kidney health promotion and disease prevention’ recognises the urgent need for global action to prevent and manage chronic kidney disease (CKD) and will be considered at the 78th World Health Assembly in May 2025. The work on the resolution has been led by Guatemala and would put kidney disease alongside stroke, cardiovascular disease, chronic respiratory disease, diabetes and cancer as a priority non-communicable disease (NCD) for the WHO.
What is a WHO resolution?
Resolutions set by the WHO work as big-picture goals for member states, encouraging a cohesive approach to tackling global health challenges, by either setting targets or leading to the development of technical guidance.
What is the resolution on kidney disease calling for?
There are four areas of focus for the draft decision, which align closely with current WHO initiatives for NCDs, as well as the UK Government’s planned shifts of direction for the NHS. The four areas of focus are:
- To promote global awareness and education on CKD, including on CKD risk factors and preventive actions through campaigns and policy initiatives.
- To enhance prevention and early detection within primary care, targeting high-risk populations, facilitating access to cost effective medications that can substantially delay and sometimes prevent kidney failure in a patient’s life.
- To support access to affordable and quality treatment, including progressively expanding access to CKD care and affordable kidney replacement therapy.
- To strengthen health systems for CKD management by building capacity in low- and middle-income countries to deliver people-centered, high-quality care.
What is the charity doing about it?
We’ve jointly written to the national medical director of NHS England, health ministers and Chief Medical Officers across the four nations, the officers of the All-Party Parliamentary Kidney Group and the UK permanent delegation in Geneva. We will also be attending a meeting with officials from the Department of Health and Social care to urge them to ensure the UK fully endorses the resolution.
How can I help?
Share our social media posts on this topic, and show your MP that this resolution is a priority for kidney patients in the UK
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