DISPARITIES IN ACCESS TO KIDNEY TRANSPLANTATION IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES

Abstract

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a global health prob lem with nearly 0.1% of the world’s population suffering from end-stage kidney disease (ESKD).1 The availability and accessibility to treatments for ESKD differ around the globe because of variations in healthcare budgets and availability of treatments. Although the prevalence of ESKD in low-income countries (LICs, 0.05%) and lower middle–income countries (L-MICs, 0.07%) is estimated to be lower than in high-income countries (HICs, 0.2%), or potentially underdiagnosed, the proportion of patients who are not receiving effective treatment is much higher in LICs (96%) and L-MICs (90%) compared with upper mid dle–income countries (U-MICs, 70%) and HICs (40%).2 In some L-MICs, it is impossible to support hemodialysis treatment for every ESKD patient, and most patients are unable to pay for dialysis out of pocket