With the title “towards a resilient and patient-centred approach to kidney care in Europe: learning from the COVID-19 pandemic and harnessing future preparedness ”, the webinar organized by the European Alliance for Kidney Health was held (EKHA) and that has analysed the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on people with kidney disease in Europe.
In the webinar the presentation from the viewpoint of the patient was made by our president Daniel Gallego, who has exposed the situation, problems and challenges that have suffered and we are suffering from the high incidence of this pandemic in Europe.
Professor Raymon Vanholder, president of the EKHA, has presented the incidence of Covid-19 infections in the kidney population and its impact on mortality and associated morbility in these patients.
After both presentations, a panel discussion has been organized on what has been learned and future perspectives to reduce the burden of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and meet the needs of kidney patients in Europe. In this table they have participated:
- Stefan Schreck, Head of unit, Health promotion, disease prevention, financial instrument, DG SANTE, European Commission, Belgium
- Edwina Brown, Consultant Nephrologist, Imperial College Renal & Transplant Centre, Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK
- Fokko Wieringa, Principal Scientist, Connected Health Solutions of IMEC, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
- Ronald Gansevoort, Nephrologist, Division of Nephrology, University Medical Center, Groningen, The Netherlands, , Chair of the COVID-19 Working Group of the European Renal Association.
- Fiona Loud, Director, Kidney Care UK
The speakers have tried to answer the questions of What did the COVID-19 pandemic teach us on unmet needs in CKD prevention and research and on the existing shortcomings in kidney care delivery in Europe? and How do we ensure that lessons learned & best practices during the outbreak become the new normal on CKD prevention, research & care in the aftermath of COVID-19?
