COVID-19
COVID-19
The International Society of Nephrology has put together this page to provide the global nephrology community on updates on the current global novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. This page is a companion to the recently published article in Kidney International "The Novel Coronavirus 2019 Epidemic and Kidneys”. We will continue to update the information on these pages as the situation changes. Our aim is to provide the global kidney health community (physicians, non-physician health workers as well as the general public) on the current knowledge and best practices and stories from around the world.
Nephrology Societies call for ensuring optimal care to patients with kidney diseases during the COVID-19 Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic is likely to acquire dimensions of a humanitarian crisis as it spreads in the countries outside of Europe and the USA in the coming weeks and months.
The pandemic is exposing the basic structural deficiencies of health care in general, and kidney care in particular. Lockdowns and loss of livelihoods have severely restricted the ability of adults and children with kidney disease to access regular care and medications in some parts of the world. Patients with end-stage kidney disease have been particularly affected: lack of availability of transport is impeding the ability to access regular dialysis. Vital supplies, including personal protective equipment (PPE) for staff and patients and dialysis consumables, have become threatened due to interruptions in the free movement and challenges in acquisition. In some instances, restrictions imposed by governments have also contributed to the steshortages.
The Global Coalition for Circulatory Health has signed a letter on the USA's current stance on WHO funding
We urge President Trump to reconsider his decision to review USA funding of the WHO at the height of this global pandemic of COVID-19. Our Global Coalition for Circulatory Health stands side by side with the WHO as it coordinates the global response to the COVID-19 crisis. To undermine this crucial global effort by threatening to withdraw critically important funding from the WHO can only exacerbate this global threat. At the same time, we would encourage other organization and countries to increase their funding to the WHO.
Read moreJoint statement from ASN, ERA-EDTA, ISN: Ensuring optimal care for people with kidney diseases during the COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic presents numerous challenges to health care systems around the world. Many initiatives focused on containing virus transmission may affect ongoing care of people with pre-existing health conditions, especially in resource-constrained settings.
Most people with kidney failure need to receive treatment at dialysis centers every 2-3 days. (Others dialyze at home.) Strict lockdowns impose limits on public and private transport that normally support travel for people who often live at significant distances from treatment centers.
ISN stands with the WHO
The International Society of Nephrology (ISN), with its mission to improve kidney health worldwide and ensure that all people have equitable access to sustainable kidney health, has noted with concern the decision by President Donald Trump to suspend funding to the World Health Organization (WHO).
The COVID-19 pandemic is likely to acquire dimensions of a humanitarian crisis as it spreads in the countries outside of Europe and the USA in the coming weeks and months.
The pandemic is exposing the basic structural deficiencies of health care in general, and kidney care in particular. Lockdowns and loss of livelihoods have severely restricted the ability of adults and children with kidney disease to access regular care and medications in some parts of the world. Patients with end-stage kidney disease have been particularly affected: lack of availability of transport is impeding the ability to access regular dialysis. Vital supplies, including personal protective equipment (PPE) for staff and patients and dialysis consumables, have become threatened due to interruptions in the free movement and challenges in acquisition. In some instances, restrictions imposed by governments have also contributed to the shortages.
We, the representing societies of kidney professionals around the world, call for concrete actions by governments and agencies overseeing care of patients with kidney disease including:
- Ensure the timely diagnostics and treatment of acute and chronic kidney disease including access to essential medications, dialysis and safe kidney transplantation.
- Ensure availability of adequate and most appropriate use of PPE to protect the healthcare workers and patients by overseeing their purchase, distribution, supply, and responsible use.
- Ensure rapid scaling up of COVID 19 testing capabilities.
- Promote strategies for rapid training of health personnel in providing care to patients with acute and chronic kidney disease at home and in hospital, and in the use of personal protection strategies, including in the most adverse contexts.
- Support collaborative research and collection, analysis and wide dissemination of information regarding COVID19 in acute kidney injury and end-stage kidney disease thus far generated throughout the world.
- Widely share the results of all the actions taken, in order to generate guidelines and recommendations relevant to each national healthcare capacity.
We also call for intervention by multilateral organizations such as the World Health Organization and the United Nations to encourage concerted action by the member states so that the global community responds appropriately to the current challenge of acute and chronic kidney disease, and is appropriately prepared for future adversities.
