Talks are underway for chronic kidney disease (CKD) to be included in the chronic disease management (CDM) programme in general practice, the Medical Independent (MI) has learned.
A Department of Health spokesperson informed MI the CDM programme would “soon be further expanded to include chronic kidney disease, among other conditions”.
“Further expansion of the programme to include additional conditions would require rigorous clinical assessment to ensure the condition would be appropriate to the CDM programme, and engagement with stakeholders, including the GPs delivering the service, to ensure adequate capacity is in place,” stated the spokesperson. “However, this could be considered in the future in the context of resource availability.”
It is understood that discussions between the IMO and the Department are at an early stage. Further engagement is required before CKD forms part of the CDM programme.
Some GPs have raised concerns about the direction of the expansion. Dr Austin Byrne, IMO GP committee member, argued that a programme for overweight and obesity should first be introduced before the development of more narrow models of care, such as that proposed for CKD.
He noted that obesity is a risk factor in the development of several diseases, including CKD.
“Ironically, they [Department of Health officials] have shown absolutely no enthusiasm for the management of overweight and obesity, which in themselves are risk factors in Ireland for the development of chronic renal failure,” Dr Byrne told MI.
“We’re just focusing on the tail end of diseases and conditions and we need to move it right back to prevention.”
A spokesperson for the Irish Kidney Association said the number of patients in Ireland with treated end-stage kidney disease had “progressed relentlessly” over the last two decades.
At the end of 2024, some 5,404 patients had a functioning kidney transplant or were receiving dialysis, an increase from 5,257 the previous year.
The HSE published the third report of the CDM programme in January 2025. The report found that “a significant number” of patients in the programme had impaired kidney function and the extension of the programme to include those with chronic kidney failure “is important”.
The report also noted plans to extend the programme to include CKD, “familial hypercholesterolemia, direct access into the prevention programme for the agreed conditions from age 18 onwards, peripheral arterial disease and moderate/severe valvular disease from July 2025.”
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