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Samaan F, Mendes Á, Carnut L. Privatization and Oligopolies of the Renal Replacement Therapy Sector on Contemporary Capitalism: A Systematic Review and the Brazilian Scenario. CLINICOECONOMICS AND OUTCOMES RESEARCH 2024; 16:417-435. [PMID: 38765895 PMCID: PMC11100955 DOI: 10.2147/ceor.s464120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Worldwide the assistance on renal replacement therapy (RRT) is carried out mainly by private for-profit services and in a market with increase in mergers and acquisitions. The aim of this study was to conduct an integrative systematic review on privatization and oligopolies in the RRT sector in the context of contemporary capitalism. The inclusion criteria were scientific articles without language restrictions and that addressed the themes of oligopoly or privatization of RRT market. Studies published before 1990 were excluded. The exploratory search for publications was carried out on February 13, 2024 on the Virtual Health Library Regional Portal (VHL). Using the step-by-step of PRISMA flowchart, 34 articles were retrieved, of which 31 addressed the RRT sector in the United States and 26 compared for-profit dialysis units or those belonging to large organizations with non-profit or public ones. The main effects of privatization and oligopolies, evaluated by the studies, were: mortality, hospitalization, use of peritoneal dialysis and registration for kidney transplantation. When considering these outcomes, 19 (73%) articles showed worse results in private units or those belonging to large organizations, six (23%) studies were in favor of privatization or oligopolies and one study was neutral (4%). In summary, most of the articles included in this systematic review showed deleterious effects of oligopolization and privatization of the RRT sector on the patients served. Possible explanations for this result could be the presence of conflicts of interest in the RRT sector and the lack of incentive to implement the chronic kidney disease care line. The predominance of articles from a single nation may suggest that few countries have transparent mechanisms to monitor the quality of care and outcomes of patients on chronic dialysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farid Samaan
- Planning and Evaluation Group, São Paulo State Health Department, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
- Research Division, Dante Pazzanese Cardiology Institute, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Áquilas Mendes
- Public Health School, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
- Postgraduate Program, Pontifícia Universidade Católica, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Leonardo Carnut
- Center for the Development of Higher Education in Health, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
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Vanholder R, Annemans L, Braks M, Brown EA, Pais P, Purnell TS, Sawhney S, Scholes-Robertson N, Stengel B, Tannor EK, Tesar V, van der Tol A, Luyckx VA. Inequities in kidney health and kidney care. Nat Rev Nephrol 2023; 19:694-708. [PMID: 37580571 DOI: 10.1038/s41581-023-00745-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 08/16/2023]
Abstract
Health inequity refers to the existence of unnecessary and unfair differences in the ability of an individual or community to achieve optimal health and access appropriate care. Kidney diseases, including acute kidney injury and chronic kidney disease, are the epitome of health inequity. Kidney disease risk and outcomes are strongly associated with inequities that occur across the entire clinical course of disease. Insufficient investment across the spectrum of kidney health and kidney care is a fundamental source of inequity. In addition, social and structural inequities, including inequities in access to primary health care, education and preventative strategies, are major risk factors for, and contribute to, poorer outcomes for individuals living with kidney diseases. Access to affordable kidney care is also highly inequitable, resulting in financial hardship and catastrophic health expenditure for the most vulnerable. Solutions to these injustices require leadership and political will. The nephrology community has an important role in advocacy and in identifying and implementing solutions to dismantle inequities that affect kidney health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raymond Vanholder
- European Kidney Health Alliance, Brussels, Belgium.
- Nephrology Section, Department of Internal Medicine and Paediatrics, University Hospital Ghent, Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Lieven Annemans
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Marion Braks
- European Kidney Health Alliance, Brussels, Belgium
- Association Renaloo, Paris, France
| | - Edwina A Brown
- Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, Imperial College Renal and Transplant Center, London, UK
| | - Priya Pais
- Department of Paediatric Nephrology, St John's Medical College, Bengaluru, India
| | - Tanjala S Purnell
- Departments of Epidemiology and Surgery, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Simon Sawhney
- Aberdeen Centre for Health Data Science, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
| | | | - Bénédicte Stengel
- Clinical Epidemiology Team, Center for Research in Epidemiology and Population Health (CESP), University Paris-Saclay, UVSQ, Inserm, Villejuif, France
| | - Elliot K Tannor
- Department of Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
- Renal Unit, Directorate of Medicine, Komfo Anokye, Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Vladimir Tesar
- Department of Nephrology, First Faculty of Medicine and General University Hospital, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Arjan van der Tol
- Nephrology Section, Department of Internal Medicine and Paediatrics, University Hospital Ghent, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Valérie A Luyckx
- Renal Division, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Department of Public and Global Health, Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Prevention Institute, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
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Anandh U, Meena P, Karam S, Luyckx V. Social, political and legal determinants of kidney health: Perspectives from lower- and middle-income countries with a focus on India. FRONTIERS IN NEPHROLOGY 2022; 2:1024667. [PMID: 37745281 PMCID: PMC10513032 DOI: 10.3389/fneph.2022.1024667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
The social determinants of health (SDoH) are the non-medical factors that influence kidney health outcomes directly or indirectly in a substantial manner and include conditions in which people are born, grow, work, live, and age. Many such challenges in lower- and middle- income countries have an unfavourable impact on kidney health. These conditions potentially influence economic policies and systems, development agendas, social norms, social policies, and political systems. In addition, many political and legal factors also determine and modify the ultimate outcome in patients with kidney disease. Legal factors that ensure universal health care, promote gender and racial equality, prevent malpractices and regulate strict laws in the field of kidney transplantation are the paramount determinants for the provision of necessary kidney care. Converging lines of evidence have supported the impact of social variables such as socioeconomic resources, social inclusion, housing conditions, educational attainment, and financial status on kidney health, particularly affect vulnerable and disadvantaged groups and result in challenges in kidney care delivery. Furthermore, the climate is an important SDoH that plays a crucial role in the occurrence, prevalence, and progression of kidney diseases as highlighted by the presence of higher prevalence of chronic kidney disease in hot tropical countries. The rising incidence of water and vector-borne diseases causing acute kidney injury is another consequence of disruptive environmental and climate change which is detrimental to kidney health. Political risk factors such as conflict also have a devastating influence on kidney health. The relationship between SDoH and kidney health outcomes requires more clarity. Gaps in the current knowledge need to be identified to inform the development of appropriate interventions to address upstream socio-economic risk factors for kidney disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Urmila Anandh
- Department of Nephrology, Amrita Hospitals, Faridabad, Delhi NCR, India
| | - Priti Meena
- Department of Nephrology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhubaneshwar, India
| | - Sabine Karam
- Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
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