Social responsibility

Kidney transplants – suitability is key

For many patients with end-stage renal disease a kidney transplant is the preferred treatment option. However, we are very much aware that the longer patients remain on dialysis prior to a kidney transplant, the greater the risk to the survival of the patient and the transplanted kidney.

We therefore feel we should offer our patients with end-stage renal disease not only the best dialysis treatment option, but also maximise their transplant suitability. We do this by applying the best practice guidelines so that we can achieve the best possible clinical status.

All our patients who are interested in and who are suitable for kidney transplantation should be on the transplantation list. We take our responsibility for our patients and the other stakeholders very seriously.

“Second life” campaign in Poland

Fresenius Medical Care Poland initiated a campaign called “Second Life” addressing high school students in order to increase the social acceptance for transplantation. The campaign provides students with sets of policy and education materials, on the basis of which they develop their own school-level activities explaining the issues of organ transplantation, both to their peers and to their local communities. So far, nearly 200 schools have participated in the three editions of the campaign. Students have handed out more than 150,000 donor forms. In 2007, Polish transplantology noted a serious decrease in the number of transplantations. In the last few years, however, the number of transplantations has been growing steadily. The “Second life” campaign has surely had an effect on this change.

Sponsored walk in the United Kingdom

Staff at the Fresenius Medical Care head office in UK arranged a sponsored walk on the Teversal Trails in Nottinghamshire, which unfortunately coincided with a very wet weekend. Staff were joined by family and friends and battled freezing rain, sleet and snow to compete the walk. This shared experience, organised under the theme of better understanding for the subject of kidney failure, was highly appreciated by all: patients, staff, families and friends. Additionally it all served a good purpose: in total, this and other activities organised in clinics and offices across the country raised over £5000. As well as raising much needed funds to help the estimated 50,000 people being treated for end-stage renal failure in the UK, Fresenius Medical Care plans to help Kidney Research UK spread the word about kidney disease, highlighting the risks to the general public.

The National Kidney Program in Hungary

The National Kidney Program was launched in the spring of 2011 in co-operation with the Hungarian Nephrology Association, the Hungarian Transplantation Association and civil organisations. The aim of the National Kidney Program is to reduce the frequency and seriousness of kidney disease and its complications by means of information explaining the importance of a health-conscious lifestyle within .society. Providing information to the risk groups is a top priority.

Under the auspices of the program experts and successfully transplanted fellows visit the dialysis centres to increase the rate of patients involved in transplantation programs. This is done by providing information to patients, who might be suitable for kidney transplantation, but refuse it due to psychological or other reasons.