"Recognition that prevention and management of CKD are both a major public health issue and an economic imperative has led Congress to insist on public progress reports making everyone accountable to the community and patients." 

Melbourne July 23:  The United States Government has elevated the priority of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) in order to address the high cost of end stage kidney disease (ESKD).  Known as the multiplier of all other major chronic diseases including heart, diabetes, cancer and chronic lung disease, CKD is a silent but deadly killer. 

An expert in chronic kidney disease clinical and economic outcomes, Professor Allan Collins, Director of the United States Renal Data System, Professor of Medicine University of Minnesota, Director of the Public Health Surveillance System for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) will address the Kidney Health Australia International Chronic Kidney Disease Summit in Melbourne this morning.

Professor Collins said the United States Government is spending 7% of its health budget on end stage renal disease on patients over 65  with general CKD costs running at 20%.  This means the Government is spending 27% of its entire health budget on just 9% of the population.

The US Government has identified the need to take direct action on a national front to avoid drowning in dialysis debt. Australia faces a similar economic CKD challenge with dialysis costs continuing to escalate and impact the Federal health budget at a time when Government funded CKD early detection and prevention initiatives are non-existent.

Professor Collins indicated that the Global Economic Crisis will come and go, however the CKD economic crisis will prevail with some governments around the world having little idea of its potential impact on overall economic performance.

"The US National Quality Forum has established standards of care that will assist in creating incentives for payments to primary care physicians for the early detection and treatment of CKD.  
 
"Recognition that prevention and management of CKD are both a major public health issue and an economic imperative has led Congress to insist on public progress reports making everyone accountable to the community and patients.

"Given the US experience I would urge the Federal Government and its State Government partners to consider  undertaking an immediate overhaul of both the positioning and future sustainable funding of CKD and prevention in Australia."

On current statistics end stage renal numbers (dialysis) in Australia are expanding at 6% a year blowing out the dialysis budget by $1 million per week.  This a 60% jump without even factoring in the rapidly ageing population.

CKD is common, harmful and treatable however it has become quite evident worldwide that the  only countries who will handle management of this disease burden successfully in the future will be those with whose federal government's have the ability and political will to be accountable for early detection and prevention of CKD.