Landscape of kidney replacement therapy provision in low- and lower-middle income countries: A multinational study...

In low- and lower-middle-income countries (LLMICs), delivering equitable kidney care presents substantial challenges, resulting in significant disparities in disease management and treatment outcomes for people with kidney failure. This comprehensive report leveraged data from the International Society of Nephrology-Global Kidney Health Atlas (ISN-GKHA), to provide a detailed update on the landscape of kidney replacement therapy (KRT) in LLMICs. Among the 65 participating LLMICs, reimbursement for KRT (publicly funded by the government and free at the point of delivery) was available in 28%, 15%, and 8% for hemodialysis (HD), peritoneal dialysis (PD), and kidney transplantation (KT), respectively. Additionally, while 56% and 28% of LLMICs reported the capacity to provide quality HD and PD, only 41% reported accessibility to chronic dialysis, defined as >50% of the national population being able to access KRT, and a mere 5% LLMICs reported accessibility to KT. Workforce shortages in nephrology further compound these challenges. Kidney registries and comprehensive policies for non-communicable diseases and chronic kidney disease care were limited in LLMICs. A comprehensive and cost-effective approach is crucial to address these challenges. Collaboration at global, regional, country, and individual levels is essential to enhance the quality of kidney care across LLMICs.