ISN Advocacy Newsletter – Bridging the Gaps – April 2025
Shaping the future of global kidney health at WHA78 & beyond
As an exciting year for global kidney health advocacy continues to unfold, I’d like to highlight several tremendous opportunities to make a lasting impact on kidney care.
First, there is considerable momentum surrounding the vote on Guatemala’s kidney health resolution during the World Health Assembly (May), and the High-level Meeting on NCDs (September). These two critical events will help secure the support needed to tackle the rising burden of CKD. In anticipation of these events, the ISN launched a manifesto at WCN’25 calling for global action on kidney health, and we continue to encourage all to sign the ISN Global Petition.
Second, the recently launched ISN-GKHA Interactive Map provides vital insights into the state of kidney care worldwide, and will guide policymakers toward more effective strategies for early detection, prevention, and treatment.
Third, Nature Reviews Nephrology will host the webinar “Kidney disease in the public health agenda” on April 28. I have the honor of participating as a speaker in this broadcast, which will examine the important role that kidney disease plays in the broader noncommunicable disease agenda,
Thanks for your ongoing commitment to the ISN’s efforts to make better kidney health a reality for all.
Warm regards,
Marcello Tonelli
ISN President
On the road to Geneva WHA78:
Supporting the WHO kidney health resolution
“It costs less than a cup of coffee to diagnose a patient with kidney disease.”
— María José Soler
On April 7, World Health Day, the ISN Advocacy Working Group and the Social Media Committee collaborated to host an ISN X Space discussion on the WHO kidney health resolution.
Experts Urmila Anandh, Elliot Tannor, and María José Soler led an engaging conversation on how the resolution, led by Guatemala, has the potential to transform global kidney health — positioning it as a powerful tool for driving improved health outcomes and advancing equity worldwide. Key elements of the resolution are:
- Primary care and early detection: Emphasizing the importance of identifying and managing risk factors early to prevent disease progression and reduce healthcare costs
- Access to kidney care: Highlighting how the resolution can help close gaps in kidney care, particularly in low-resource settings
- Global advocacy and support: Demonstrating how co-sponsors like Spain are driving international support and inspiring broader commitment
The X Space conversation highlighted the resolution’s potential to drive meaningful change, placing kidney health as a global public health priority. Listen to the full discussion.
Building on the 2024 joint ASN-ERA-ISN consensus statement highlighting the global burden of kidney disease and providing key recommendations for policymakers, efforts are now focused on translating these insights into action ahead of the 2025 UN High-level Meeting on noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) in September.
As a next step, Nature Reviews Nephrology will host a high-level webinar, “Kidney disease in the public health agenda,” on April 28 (from 3 to 4 p.m. CEST). The webinar is part of the Springer Nature SDG Talk series, dedicated to connecting research and policy to drive real-world impact.
Please join us for this critical opportunity to elevate kidney disease within the global health agenda and ensure it is recognized as a priority in NCD prevention and management.
A historic milestone was reached at the 156th WHO Executive Board Meeting in February 2025 with the decision to include the WHO kidney health resolution for a potential vote during the 78th World Health Assembly (May 19-27, 2025).
The resolution, led by Guatemala and backed by multiple member states, calls for:
- Greater recognition of kidney disease as a public health priority
- Early detection and equitable access to treatment
- Stronger health systems to support patients globally
What can you do?
The ISN calls on the kidney health community to use the advocacy communication materials to amplify the message and encourage support for the resolution. These include:
- An open letter calling UN Member States to vote in favor of the WHO resolution on kidney health
- A one-pager summarizing key information about the resolution
- A draft email template
- Social media materials: Including pre-written posts and a banner
- A poster linking to the ISN Global Petition
In collaboration with Devex, the ISN is hosting the event, “Kidney Health Matters: A Policy Imperative for Economic Resilience,” on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. (CEST) in Geneva.
Global leaders will discuss the economic and public health impact of kidney disease at the event, further driving support for the WHO kidney health resolution.
The event will feature high-level keynote speakers representing the WHO, alongside healthcare providers, patient advocates, industry representatives, and delegates from Ministries of Health in countries such as Guatemala, Thailand, Somalia, and (to be confirmed) Spain.
The discussion will emphasize the economic case for early detection, kidney care integration into Universal Health Coverage (UHC), and the need for global policy action. The event will be live-streamed.
This event is supported by AstraZeneca and Boehringer Ingelheim.
On March 13, World Kidney Day (WKD) 2025 was celebrated worldwide. The year-long campaign theme, “Are your kidneys OK: Detect early, protect kidney health,” focused on the importance of early detection and raising awareness about the risk factors for kidney disease.
WKD activities on March 13 set new records — here are the highlights:
- 2,500 events were held worldwide, spreading awareness and promoting early screening
- Social media engagement reached 43K interactions (+215% compared to 2024), 762K impressions, and a 111 million reach for our hashtags: #WorldKidneyDay and #AreYourKidneysOK.
- Celebrities, governments, over 20 Ministries of Health, and leading international health organizations supported the cause
- The campaign was featured in 801 media outlets, reaching an estimated 157 million people globally
Thank you to everyone who helped make this World Kidney Day a remarkable success, including all our valued sponsors: Alexion, AstraZeneca Rare Disease, Astellas, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Biogen, Boehringer Ingelheim & Eli Lilly Company, DaVita, Diaverum, Fresenius Kabi, Fresenius Medical Care, Nipro, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Sanofi, Sobi, Otsuka Pharmaceutical, Travere Therapeutics, Vantive, Vera Therapeutics, Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Zydus Lifesciences .
Our collective efforts are making a real difference. Let’s continue driving positive change in global kidney care!
Other actions
The 2025 Professor Donal O’Donoghue Global Kidney Policy Forum, “Bridging gaps and building sustainable solutions,” took place on February 6 in New Delhi.
The meeting addressed the rising burden of kidney disease in Southeast Asia, presenting a platform for global and regional leaders to discuss critical issues in kidney care and innovative solutions to improve early detection and healthcare accessibility.
Patient Liaison Advisory Group member Vasundhara Raghavan and Advocacy Working Group Deputy Chair, Ifeoma Ulasi, closed the event with a powerful call for continued collaboration to advance kidney health worldwide.
Look out for the pamphlet summarizing the forum’s key insights, available shortly.
The ISN thanks all speakers, participants, and partners for their valued contribution to the success of this year’s forum.
The ISN advances kidney health by collaborating with global and national organizations, advocating for early detection and effective treatments, and promoting equitable care. Through research and policy influence, the ISN’s efforts make a tangible difference in the lives of millions affected by kidney conditions.
A key initiative, the ISN-Global Kidney Health Atlas (ISN-GKHA), provides critical data on the organization, structures, and processes of kidney care across the world. Offering valuable insights into the global state of kidney health and healthcare services, it highlights disparities, guiding policymakers and healthcare providers toward improvements.
Explore all ISN-GKHA-related papers
Introducing the ISN-GKHA Interactive Map
To make global kidney health data even more accessible and actionable, the ISN has launched the ISN-GKHA Interactive Map. This dynamic tool provides insights into kidney health worldwide, allowing users to explore data by country, region, and key indicators. It offers a user-friendly experience that facilitates comparisons across different countries and regions.. This dynamic tool provides insights into kidney health worldwide, allowing users to explore data by country, region, and key indicators. It offers a user-friendly experience that facilitates comparisons across different countries and regions.
Key features of the interactive map:
- View by indicator: Explore data on critical aspects such as policies, workforce, services, and more
- View by country: Access specific data for individual countries and make comparisons between them
- View by ISN region: Review data based on geographical areas defined by the ISN
- View by World Bank Income Group: Understand kidney health trends categorized by the World Bank’s economic classification
The map leverages data from the 2019 and 2023 ISN-GKHA reports, presenting valuable insights into global disparities and advancements in kidney care. The next update is planned for 2027, ensuring the tool remains current and relevant.
The ISN-GKHA interactive map is an essential resource for healthcare professionals, policymakers, and researchers seeking to understand and address global kidney health challenges. Your feedback is invaluable in shaping future updates, so please take a moment to share your thoughts through the feedback survey.
Explore the map and access full reports and resources.
For further inquiries, feel free to reach out to GlobalAtlas@theisn.org.
