Decarbonisation of CKD treatment in the UAE. A discussion paper.
It is recognised that global health and care systems are undergoing transformative change to adapt to the needs of patients and communities, with increasing pressure to be financially, socially and environmentally sustainable. Appraising the
sustainability of care pathways is seen as a crucial step to enabling a more sustainable health system. As world leaders and policy makers gather in Dubai for the UNFCCC COP28, the Sustainable Healthcare Coalition has worked with Pure Health, Maverex and AstraZeneca to look at the profile of kidney disease in the UAE, assessing the health, health system and environmental burdens that chronic kidney disease poses in the country. This new discussion paper brings together learning from studies by the paper’s partners and others to shine a spotlight on routes to reduce those burdens.
The UAE has committed to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 and addressing the impact of healthcare could aid in reaching this target. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) treatment, notably resource-intensive at advanced stages, poses a substantial
healthcare burden and environmental impact within the UAE. Our discussion paper shows that reducing the incidence and progression of early stages of CKD can reduce the greenhouse gas (GHG) impact by reducing the need for intensive primary
and secondary care interventions.
One important facet of this work emphasizes the role of patient transport and potential improvements in operational sustainability through the adoption of green technologies and energy-efficient practices in the design and delivery of renal
replacement treatment (RRT) services to minimize associated emissions. Whilst there has been good progress in the UAE in some facilities in the delivery of sustainability best practices, the UAE’s net zero commitment may be facilitated by
continued development and more implementation of sustainable solutions in CKD management. These recommendations are poised to contribute to the UAE’s climate action agenda and have relevance to nephrology practice globally.
About the Sustainable Healthcare Coalition
The SHC is a healthcare sector-led group which looks for the greatest opportunities to inspire sustainable practices in healthcare through the collaboration of its members across private and public sectors. Action-focused; our core principle is that net zero sustainability challenges are most effectively addressed by collaborating across the system. The group is powerful because it allows open conversations between committed organisations to explore the possibility of change in a safe space and, by focusing on tangible sustainability problems, it has driven innovation and led to practical action through testing and learning across the system.
Discussion paper