Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Carlos Alos-Ferrer, Jaume Garcia-Segarra, Miguel Gines-Vilar
Summary: When vaccines are in short supply, it is necessary to balance the equal treatment of individuals and the prioritization of vulnerable populations based on ethical principles. The allocation methods used during the COVID-19 pandemic have been criticized for ethical issues. This research identifies an algorithm that treats people equally while prioritizing those who are worse off. In contrast, the current procedures used in the COVID-19 pandemic violate these principles.
FRONTIERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
E. M. Kool, R. van der Graaf, A. M. E. Bos, B. C. J. M. Fauser, A. L. Bredenoord
Summary: The ethical analysis of allocating cryopreserved donor oocytes aims to formulate fair recipient selection criteria and prioritization criteria to support allocation decisions where demand exceeds supply. Allocation decisions should be made by a multidisciplinary committee, and transparent and accountable decision-making processes can enhance fairness and reasonableness.
HUMAN REPRODUCTION
(2021)
Review
Health Care Sciences & Services
Johannes Siegrist
Summary: With the rapid transformation of the world of work in middle-income countries and increasing global interconnectivity, the importance of psychosocial occupational health is growing. However, research from these countries has limited impact on the international state of the art in this field.
Article
Ethics
Rebecca J. DeBoer, Cam Nguyen, Esperance Mutoniwase, Anita Ho, Grace Umutesi, Jean Bosco Bigirimana, Scott A. Triedman, Cyprien Shyirambere
Summary: Radiotherapy is crucial in cancer treatment, but many countries lack the capacity to meet the demand, requiring priority setting. Research shows the need for fair procedures for priority setting in low resource contexts, which itself can be resource-intensive.
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Brayan V. Seixas, Dean A. Regier, Stirling Bryan, Craig Mitton
Summary: Existing practices of priority setting and resource allocation in publicly funded health care systems of high-income countries still rely heavily on historical patterns and ad hoc decisions, lacking evaluation and routine use. Health technology assessment is commonly used as a formal priority setting strategy. There is a need for further development and improvement of decision-making frameworks in PSRA to establish well-defined steps, multi-criteria assessments, and a focus on achieving higher value.
BMC HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Oncology
Rebecca J. DeBoer, Esperance Mutoniwase, Cam Nguyen, Anita Ho, Grace Umutesi, Eugene Nkusi, Fidele Sebahungu, Katherine Van Loon, Lawrence N. Shulman, Cyprien Shyirambere
Summary: Research conducted with oncology clinicians in a cancer center in Rwanda found that resource constraints and inequalities contribute to moral distress among clinicians in low-resource settings. Interventions such as individual and organizational strategies, along with collective advocacy for equity in cancer care, are urgently needed to address moral distress and clinician burnout. Lessons from low-resource settings can provide insights for high-income countries facing growing needs to prioritize oncology resources.
Review
Infectious Diseases
Lile Malania, Inge Wagenaar, Onur Karatuna, Arjana Tambic Andrasevic, David Tsereteli, Marine Baidauri, Paata Imnadze, Saskia Nahrgang, Carolien Ruesen
Summary: The article focuses on essential elements for setting up an AMR surveillance system in LMICs, using the Georgia case study to demonstrate a successful approach. Through governmental support, capacity building, and quality management, Georgia was able to establish and expand a functional AMR surveillance network with sustained impact on microbiology laboratories.
CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY AND INFECTION
(2021)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Katja Voit, Cristian Timmermann, Marcin Orzechowski, Florian Steger
Summary: This study proposes a legally regulated vaccine allocation as a possible strategy for equitable global access to vaccines, focusing on COVAX and an existing EU regulation. The results suggest that a legal solution could enhance transparency and inclusiveness in vaccine distribution, while incorporating responsiveness and accountability values.
FRONTIERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Ethics
Borgar Jolstad, Erik Gustavsson
Summary: Fair priority setting is based on morally sound criteria. However, when these criteria are tied, tiebreakers such as lotteries or allowing secondary considerations have been suggested. This paper discusses the arguments for these tiebreakers. While holding a lottery to preserve impartiality is reasonable, using tiebreakers as secondary considerations is not. The instances where tiebreakers seem necessary are precisely the situations where lotteries should be preferred.
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ETHICS
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Nir Eyal, Anca Gheaus, Axel Gosseries, Monica Magalhaes, Thierry Ngosso, Bastian Steuwer, Viroj Tangcharoensathien, Isa Trifan, Andrew Williams
Summary: Low- and middle-income countries facing vaccine shortages may consider prioritizing certain younger individuals over older adults when distributing vaccines, deviating from the current practice of prioritizing older adults.
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Ethics
Morten Magelssen, Magnhild Rasmussen, Sean Wallace, Reidun Forde
Summary: The study found that the national expert group has gained experience in applying start and stop criteria, rationing treatment, and facing moral dilemmas. The expert group has increased geographical treatment equity and facilitated important cooperation at the national level, while also enhancing open and critical discussions of medical issues and new ethical dilemmas.
BMC MEDICAL ETHICS
(2021)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Esti Charlotte de Graaff, Susannah Hopkins Leisher, Hannah Blencowe, Harriet Lawford, Jillian Cassidy, Paul Richard Cassidy, Elizabeth S. Draper, Alexander E. P. Heazell, Mary Kinney, Paula Quigley, Claudia Ravaldi, Claire Storey, Alfredo Vannacci, Vicki Flenady
Summary: Wide disparities in stillbirth rates exist between and within high- and upper-middle income countries, indicating that further reduction in stillbirth rates is possible. Numerous disparate national stillbirth definitions are used in these countries, limiting comparisons necessary to drive change. Data on key risk factors and equity in stillbirth rates are limited, however, underline the need for increased focus on the most affected communities.
BMC PREGNANCY AND CHILDBIRTH
(2023)
Review
Pediatrics
Rebecca Pulvirenti, Marianna Gortan, Dioniso Cumba, Piergiorgio Gamba, Costanza Tognon
Summary: Low-middle income countries are witnessing a significant population growth, resulting in an increase in the number of children living there. This calls for improvement in healthcare expertise, infrastructure, and supplies, as well as increasing awareness and accessibility to medical care.
FRONTIERS IN PEDIATRICS
(2022)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Berit H. Bringedal, Karin Isaksson Ro, Fredrik Baathe, Ingrid Miljeteig, Morten Magelssen
Summary: This study investigated the experiences and perspectives of doctors in Norway during the first phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings revealed that while most doctors were familiar with priority criteria, they were less familiar with the legislation on priority setting. Many doctors did not use guidelines for priority setting and believed that deprioritizing certain patients was medically indefensible.
BMC HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Tomi Akinyemiju, Kemi Ogunsina, Anjali Gupta, Iris Liu, Dejana Braithwaite, Robert A. Hiatt
Summary: Cancer burden is increasing globally, especially in low- and middle-income countries. These countries lack comprehensive cancer control programs and funding, therefore primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention strategies are needed to reduce the cancer burden.
FRONTIERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Katarzyna Szajek, Felix Fleisch, Sandra Hutter, Martin Risch, Theresa Bechmann, Valerie A. Luyckx, Sabine Guesewel, Cedric Hirzel, Alexia Cusini
Summary: Contact with SARS-CoV-2 infected household members was the most important risk factor for seroconversion among HCW, and the strongest occupational risk factor was exposure to COVID-19 patients. During this pandemic, with heavy non-occupational exposure to SARS-CoV-2, the mask policy of HCIs did not affect the seroconversion rate of HCWs.
ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE AND INFECTION CONTROL
(2022)
Article
Urology & Nephrology
Ryan Aylward, Brian Bieber, Murilo Guedes, Ronald Pisoni, Elliot Koranteng Tannor, Gavin Dreyer, Adrian Liew, Valerie Luyckx, Dibya Singh Shah, Chimota Phiri, Rhys Evans, Rehab Albakr, Jeffrey Perl, Vivekanand Jha, Roberto Pecoits-Filho, Bruce Robinson, Fergus J. Caskey
Summary: There is wide global variation in the rates of SARS-CoV-2 infection and mortality among HD patients and staff in dialysis centers. Availability of personal protective equipment (PPE) and diagnostic testing also varies across regions. Different responses and service redesigns have been implemented in different regions in response to the pandemic.
KIDNEY INTERNATIONAL REPORTS
(2022)
Editorial Material
Urology & Nephrology
Raymond Vanholder, Anja De Weggheleire, Dmytro D. Ivanov, Valerie Luyckx, Slim Slama, Mohamed Sekkarie, Mehmet S. Sever, Rukshana Shroff
Summary: The devastating effects of war greatly impact individuals with kidney disease. The Ukrainian conflict has brought attention to the challenges faced in providing support for this vulnerable group. Based on these experiences, as well as previous encounters with natural disasters, we propose a sustainable action plan to address logistical challenges in future conflicts.
NATURE REVIEWS NEPHROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Urology & Nephrology
Gloria Ashuntantang, Ingrid Miljeteig, Valerie A. Luyckx
Summary: Kidney diseases in Sub-Saharan Africa constitute a significant burden of non-communicable diseases, but they are not prioritized in terms of prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Dialysis is not considered cost-effective, and patients accessing limited services face high out-of-pocket expenses.
Article
Urology & Nephrology
Elliot Koranteng Tannor, Brian Bieber, Ryan Aylward, Valerie Luyckx, Dibya Singh Shah, Adrian Liew, Rhys Evans, Chimota Phiri, Murilo Guedes, Ronald Pisoni, Bruce Robinson, Fergus Caskey, Vivekanand Jha, Roberto Pecoits-Filho, Gavin Dreyer
Summary: This study aimed to identify global inequities in the care of chronic hemodialysis (HD) patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. The results showed that in low and lower-middle income countries, there was limited availability of diagnostic tests for SARS-CoV-2, and many patients missed HD treatments. These regions also had significant limitations in the care of hospitalized dialysis patients with COVID-19. Additionally, staff in these countries conducted fewer routine tests for COVID-19 when asymptomatic, and there were severe shortages of personal protective equipment.
KIDNEY INTERNATIONAL REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Urology & Nephrology
Rehab Albakr, Brian Bieber, Ryan Aylward, Fergus J. Caskey, Gavin Dreyer, Rhys Evans, Murilo Guedes, Vivekanand Jha, Valerie Luyckx, Roberto Pecoits-Filho, Chimota Phiri, Ronald L. Pisoni, Bruce Robinson, Dibya Singh Shah, Elliot Koranteng Tannor, Adrian Liew, Jeffrey Perl
Summary: This study explores the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic on peritoneal dialysis (PD) supply, patient care, and facility practices across different regions. Significant variability and adaptation to the pandemic were observed among PD facilities. The study emphasizes the opportunities to enhance routine PD care, adapt to the ongoing pandemic, and increase preparedness for potential future interruptions in PD care.
KIDNEY INTERNATIONAL REPORTS
(2022)
Review
Urology & Nephrology
Duvuru Geetha, Andreas Kronbichler, Megan Rutter, Divya Bajpai, Steven Menez, Annemarie Weissenbacher, Shuchi Anand, Eugene Lin, Nicholas Carlson, Stephen Sozio, Kevin Fowler, Ray Bignall, Kathryn Ducharlet, Elliot K. Tannor, Eranga Wijewickrama, Muhammad I. A. Hafiz, Vladimir Tesar, Robert Hoover, Deidra Crews, Charles Varnell, Lara Danziger-Isakov, Vivekanand Jha, Sumit Mohan, Chirag Parikh, Valerie Luyckx
Summary: This review summarizes the challenges and missed opportunities in caring for patients with kidney disease during the COVID-19 pandemic. It discusses the impact on patients and clinicians, including increased infection risk and resource shortages, and provides a framework for management and support.
NATURE REVIEWS NEPHROLOGY
(2022)
Editorial Material
Urology & Nephrology
Ziyad Al-Aly, Anupam Agarwal, Nisreen Alwan, Valerie A. Luyckx
NATURE REVIEWS NEPHROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Transplantation
Mehmet S. Sever, Raymond Vanholder, Valerie Luyckx, Kai-Uwe Eckardt, Mykola Kolesnyk, Andrzej Wiecek, Ewa Pawlowicz-Szlarska, Daniel Gallego, Rukshana Shroff, Andrej Skoberne, Ionut Nistor, Mohamed Sekkarie, Dmytro Ivanov, Edita Noruisiene, Serhan Tuglular
Summary: During conflicts, people with kidney disease may face additional threats due to medical and logistical challenges. Acute kidney injury and treatment interruptions can worsen kidney function, and limitations in dialysis and availability of immunosuppressive medications increase the risk of complications. Local preparedness, adjustments in treatment, telemedicine support, and referrals to higher-level hospitals are important measures to address these challenges.
NEPHROLOGY DIALYSIS TRANSPLANTATION
(2023)
Editorial Material
Urology & Nephrology
Valerie A. Luyckx, Ziyad Al-Aly
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF NEPHROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Transplantation
Serhan Tuglular, Valerie Luyckx, Raymond Vanholder, Andrej Skoberne, Andrzej Wiecek, Ionut Nistor, Ewa Pawlowicz-Szlarska, Rukshana Shroff, Dmytro Ivanov, Kai-Uwe Eckardt, Edita Noruisiene, Daniel Gallego, Olena Loboda, Mehmet S. Sever
Summary: People living with kidney disease are highly vulnerable during natural or man-made disasters, particularly in war zones. The ongoing war in Ukraine highlights the importance of preparedness and support for this group. The European Renal Association has established a task force to help those with kidney disease in Ukraine, and this report summarizes the challenges faced and actions taken. The experience gained from this initiative can be used to improve preparedness and mitigate the effects of armed conflicts on the kidney community globally.
NEPHROLOGY DIALYSIS TRANSPLANTATION
(2023)
Editorial Material
Transplantation
Valerie A. Luyckx
NEPHROLOGY DIALYSIS TRANSPLANTATION
(2023)
Editorial Material
Urology & Nephrology
Sami Alasfar, Ephrem Berhe, Sabine Karam, Valerie Luyckx
Summary: Among global destabilizing events, natural disasters tend to dominate the attention while prolonged conflicts and economic crises are overlooked. Low- and middle-income countries are disproportionately impacted and face weakened health systems as a result. Collaboration is urgently needed to ensure equitable and sustainable dialysis care during such crises.
NATURE REVIEWS NEPHROLOGY
(2023)
Meeting Abstract
Medicine, General & Internal
Paul de Zwart, Guiseppina Sparta, Valerie Luyckx
SWISS MEDICAL WEEKLY
(2022)
Meeting Abstract
Medicine, General & Internal
Paul de Zwart, Thomas Mueller, Guiseppina Sparta, Valerie Luyckx
SWISS MEDICAL WEEKLY
(2022)
