Fwd: ERA statement on the Inclusion of Kidney Health in the UN Political Declaration on Universal Health Coverage

A tartalomból:

The ERA, alongside 21 international organisations, calls on all United Nations Member States to take into account the recent World Health Organization (WHO) resolution on kidney health and ensure that kidney health is explicitly recognised as a major Noncommunicable Disease (NCD) challenge in the Political Declaration to be adopted at the Fourth UN High-Level Meeting (HLM4) on NCDs, scheduled for 25 September 2025.

Kidney disease is an important, yet historically neglected, noncommunicable disease:
• Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is among the fastest-growing causes of death worldwide —and the fastest in Europe— and is projected to become the fifth leading cause of death by 2040 if urgent action is not taken;
• CKD affects more than 850 million individuals worldwide and is one of the most costly NCDs worldwide;
• Given its asymptomatic nature, chronic kidney disease is often diagnosed late, requiring the use of replacement therapies (dialysis or transplantation) and significantly reducing life expectancy;
• CKD places an enormous burden on individuals and healthcare systems, yet it remains too often excluded from national strategies for NCD prevention and care.

At the recent 78th World Health Assembly (WHA78) in May 2025, Member States achieved a historic milestone by adopting the first-ever WHO resolution on kidney health led by Guatemala. This resolution recognises CKD as one of the major NCDs, alongside cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, respiratory diseases, and mental health, and, among other measures, calls for:

• Integration of kidney care into national and global NCD policies,
• Expansion of prevention, early detection, and treatment efforts,
• Strengthening of primary health-care systems to include kidney services,
• Access to affordable diagnostics, essential medicines, and equitable patient care.

This landmark action builds momentum for broader NCD advocacy. It sets a concrete, global mandate to deliver on Sustainable Development Goals 3.4 (reducing premature mortality from NCDs) and 3.8 (achieving Universal Health Coverage).

ERA’s endorsement of the joint letter reflects our enduring commitment to advancing kidney health through research, education, and policy recommendations across the region and globally. We underscore that Universal Health Coverage cannot be fully realised without the inclusion of kidney disease prevention, early diagnosis, and equitable access to treatment into health strategies at every level.

Accordingly, we call on all UN Member States to ensure kidney health is clearly acknowledged and addressed in the Political Declaration at HLM4. 

ERA Contacts:
Federico Torres, Public Affairs & Policy Adviser: federico.torres@era-online.org 
Laura Azzolini, Marketing & Communication Director: laura.azzolini@era-online.org