Caring for Kidneys in the Antipodes: How Australia and New Zealand Have Addressed the Challenge of End-Stage Renal Failure

Abstract

Clinicians in Australia and New Zealand have developed active programs for the treatment of patients with chronic renal disease, including end-stage renal failure. They became interested in treatment with dialysis and transplantation shortly after the initiation of these treatments elsewhere in the world and have distinguished themselves over the decades by striving to provide comprehensive treatment for all who appeared suitable on purely medical grounds, without patients' personal, financial, or social characteristics entering into consideration, and despite geographic and national economic impediments. They have undertaken all major forms of treatment promptly after the development of these internationally and have conducted significant research locally. Home hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis have featured more prominently in their repertoire than has been the case in many other countries, whereas in transplantation, they have traditionally shown a strong interest in the sourcing of grafts from deceased donors. Their participation in the field of end-stage renal failure has benefited from long-standing institutional support not only at the level of the governments and legal systems of their 2 countries, but also through the collegiality generated by their active participation in many local and international scientific societies.