The National Health Security Office Working Group (NHSO WG) conducted structured, evidence-based deliberations to generate recommendations for the National Health Security Board on the kidney replacement therapy (KRT) policy.
These are the proposed recommendations:
- To consider defining KRT policy goals to reflect on the number of dialysis patients, the proportion of peritoneal dialysis (PD) and hemodialysis (HD) patients in each modality, the maximum KRT budget proportion to the total NHSO budget, and equipping patients with full information before deciding their treatments.
- To consider proposed policy interventions to realize the policy goals: adopt a global budget, pre-authorization of dialysis, provide patient education at earlier stages of the disease, improve service quality through data, assess the need for supportive care (relieving symptoms, pain, and stress to ensure patient’s comfort), prohibit compensations for unsupervised hD sessions, and strengthen monitoring and evaluation.
- To establish a Kidney Policy Subcommittee consisting representatives from the National Health Security Board, the Ministry of Public Health, nephrologists, dialysis nurses, patients, academics, and supported by a secretariat team. The Subcommittee will be responsible to plan for the implementation, improve the information and technology system and access to data for research, support and promote innovation for kidney disease, improve monitoring system and conduct regular policy evaluation.
