Advocacy

ISN joins NCDA

ISN is pleased to have become a full member of the NCD Alliance (NCDA) to accelerate political commitment and action on non-communicable diseases (NCDs) worldwide, including kidney disease. Prof. David Harris, ISN President said: ‘We are delighted to work with colleagues from other disease communities to keep the pressure on United Nation Member States and...

ISN and SLANH stand united on Venezuela’s kidney health crisis

Responding to the crisis facing Venezuelan patients with kidney disease, ISN and the Latin American Society of Nephrology and Hypertension (SLANH) have set out to tackle kidney disease and advance kidney health by combining their expertise and knowledge. In solidarity with the patient community and the Venezuelan Society of Nephrology, we are urging the Venezuelan...

Second ISN Global Kidney Health Summit takes place in UAE

In March, 91 global leaders in nephrology, other renal healthcare workers and healthcare policymakers met at the second Global Kidney Health Summit in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, to develop a strategy to address the unmet needs of patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) around the world over the next 5 to 10 years. ‘We need...

Presenting the Kidney Collection survey

The team behind the ISN Kidney Collection have shared some first facts about this survey that assesses how care is delivered and decisions are made when providing dialysis and end-stage kidney disease care in low- and middle-income countries. 133 individuals from 39 low- and middle-income countries took part. They helped collect and collate 95 original...

ISN launches advocacy campaign to address kidney disease as a priority

ISN is calling on member states to address kidney disease as a priority at the upcoming United Nations (UN) High-Level Meeting (HLM) on non-communicable diseases (NCDs). ‘The 2018 HLM on NCDs and its preparatory process are essential opportunities to take action on tackling kidney disease. Despite being a rapidly growing disease burden and being a...

Contribute to Declaration of Istanbul on Organ Trafficking and Transplant Tourism update

Since 2010, ISN and the Transplantation Society led by the Declaration of Istanbul Custodian Group have encouraged the adoption of effective and ethical transplantation practices worldwide, including last year’s pontifical academy seminar calling for an end to organ trafficking. The declaration is now being updated to incorporate the latest criminal practices employed by organ traffickers....

A trusted leader

In January 2012, ISN became the only nephrology society in official relations with the World Health Organization (WHO). How is the ISN community using this opportunity to voice the needs of kidney patients and bridge gaps in global care? For over five years, ISN has put continued efforts into working as a WHO Non-State Actor...

Survey on comparing realities across the global nephrology workforce

The American Society of Nephrology (ASN), the European Renal Association–European Dialysis and Transplant Association (ERA-EDTA), and the International Society of Nephrology (ISN) have published a survey to look into how nephrologists across the world are trained, and the scope of patient services they offer. Get involved by completing the survey online. With the results stemming...

ISN at the WHO in Geneva

Last week, we joined the World Health Organization (WHO) executive board meeting to comment on its 2019-2023 general program of work (GPW). Member States, international NGOs and non-state actors in official relations with WHO shared their views. We lent our support to the strategy’s general principles, which align with the 2030 sustainable development agenda. But,...

World Kidney Day 2018 from the female perspective

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) affects about 195 million women worldwide and is currently the 8th leading cause of death, with close to 600,000 female deaths each year. World Kidney Day 2018 will focus on kidneys and women’s health with the message: ‘Include, Value, Empower.’  In 2018, World Kidney Day and International Women’s Day will be...

Getting kidney health on the international policy agenda

The ISN Advocacy team runs through some of the challenges ahead when it comes to getting kidney health as a Non-Communicable Disease on the international policy agenda. Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) have become the overriding burden of disease globally. However, national programs in resource-limited countries still largely focus on infectious diseases. This is due to a...

Learning lessons from Hong Kong’s ‘PD First Policy’

Between 2.3 and 7.1 million people die annually from End-Stage Kidney Disease (ESKD) due to a lack of access to dialysis. As a high-income country with expertise in peritoneal dialysis (PD), Hong Kong has a lot of practical experience to offer its neighboring low- and middle-income countries in tackling this growing issue. I highlighted the...

ISN and ASN join forces helping dialysis patients after hurricane Irma

On September 6, 2017 hurricane Irma’s eye passed over Gorda, Jost Van Dyke and Tortola, the three most populated islands within the British Virgin Islands (BVI), affecting approximately 30,000 people, of which there are 55 dialysis patients. The nearest British territory, 100 miles to the East, was similarly affected. In the US Virgin Islands...

ANZSN strengthens partnership with ISN, supporting more training in Asia Pacific

The Australian & New Zealand Society of Nephrology (ANZSN) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to develop its partnership with ISN and provide co-funding for the ISN Programs. Both Societies have expressed their mutual commitment to advancing nephrology in the Asia Pacific region. The Australian and New Zealand Society (ANZSN) promotes and encourages the...

ISN and the Japanese Society of Nephrology sign declaration of collaboration

ISN and the Japanese Society of Nephrology (JSN) signed a declaration of collaboration at the 60th JSN Congress in Sendai, Japan. The two nephrology societies will collaborate to advance knowledge of kidney diseases through research, and to improve awareness, diagnosis and management to eliminate kidney diseases worldwide. ISN and JSN will strive to: • Raise public...

My visit to the AFRAN congress

ISN was very well represented at the 14th Congress of AFRAN which was held recently in Yaounde, Cameroon. The President, President-Elect and two Past ISN Presidents were onsite, as were many other members of the ISN family. It was also the 3rd Congress of The Cameroon Society of Nephrology (SOCANEPH) and the 7th Congress of...

WHO announces new Director General

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has been appointed as World Health Organization (WHO) Director General after receiving a clear majority of the votes from WHO Member States. He will take office on July 1st, 2017. Upon hearing the news, ISN President David Harris stated: ‘I strongly welcome the new Director General and I look forward to a...

A turning point in global education: ISN’s new meeting strategy

ISN has developed a new meeting strategy aimed at delivering innovative meetings fully connected to the Society’s overall educational offerings. Following the ISN World Congress of Nephrology (WCN) 2019, ISN will organize a yearly congress with a specific regional focus and new features that build on the current WCN strengths and offer an improved learning...

Conclusions of Mexico City – Latin America unites against Kidney Disease

The first ISN Policy Forum welcomed more than 200 participants representing over seven Latin American governments, policy makers, nephrologists, researchers, patients and other relevant stakeholders. They committed to the Conclusions of Mexico City, a 12-point set of measurable actions to curb the burden of kidney disease worldwide, specifically focusing on Latin America. ISN President Adeera Levin...