Chronic disease
Work of the Australian Government on CKD and ESKD
Information about Australian Government initiatives for chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) prevention, support, research and monitoring
Information about Australian Government initiatives for chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) prevention, support, research and monitoring.
In this section:
- Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) and End-Stage Kidney Disease (ESKD)
- Work of the Australian Government on CKD and ESKD
- Preventing CKD
- Supporting people with CKD and ESKD
- Investing in CKD and ESKD research
- Monitoring CKD and ESKD
Preventing CKD
The Australian Government is aware of the significant burden that CKD has on individuals and their families and is committed to working towards the broad prevention of the disease, and its associated complications, in the Australian community.The Government has committed $872.1 million over six years (from 2009-10) under the COAG National Partnership Agreement on Preventive Health (NPAPH). This is the largest single commitment to health promotion by an Australian government.
The NPAPH seeks to address the rising prevalence of lifestyle related chronic disease by laying the foundations for healthy behaviours in the daily lives of Australians through settings such as communities, early childhood education and care environments, schools and workplaces, supported by national social marketing campaigns (Measure Up and an anti-smoking campaign).
A key element of the NPAPH involved the establishment of a new Australian National Preventive Health Agency (ANPHA). The Agency commenced operations in early 2011, with an initial focus on obesity, alcohol and tobacco use.
In addition, the Government has made an $805.5 million commitment over four years to 2012-13 commitment for an Indigenous Chronic Disease Package as its contribution to the National Partnership Agreement on Closing the Gap in Indigenous Health Outcomes. The Package is helping to improve the prevention, early detection and treatment of chronic diseases, such as CKD, in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
More information on key Australian Government initiatives and campaigns that support the prevention of chronic diseases generally, and CKD in particular, can be found via the following links:
Information Initiatives
- National Partnership Agreement on Preventive Health (NPAPH)
- Australian National Preventive Health Agency (ANPHA)
- Closing the Gap in Indigenous Health Outcomes
Supporting people with CKD and ESKD
In situations where onset of the disease cannot be prevented, the Australian Government is striving to ensure that people with CKD ─ or whose condition has deteriorated, resulting in a diagnosis of ESKD ─ have access to the most effective, up to date and clinically robust means available for managing and treating their condition.Support for people living with CKD includes subsidising kidney related medicines through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.
The Australian Government also supports CKD management by rebating GP and allied health services through the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS). The chronic disease management (CDM) Medicare items aim to improve planning and coordination of care by GPs for people with chronic medical conditions and complex care needs, and encourage a multidisciplinary approach to health care. Once a GP management plan (MBS item 721) and team care arrangements (MBS item 723) are in place, a GP can refer a patient to allied health services. Patients with CKD who have a GP management plan, can also access group services provided by Medicare eligible exercise physiologists and dietitians on referral from the GP.
Renal dialysis services fall under state and territory responsibility, but the Government has invested heavily in a range of programs aimed at improving renal infrastructure and support services, particularly in remote regions of the Northern Territory and Western Australia.
The Australian Government also commissioned the Central Australian Renal Study (in 2010), which was undertaken to inform concerned governments to make evidence based policy decisions, in order to meet the health and service needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander dialysis patients in affordable and sustainable ways.
Additionally, the Australian Government provided over $300 million, in 2011-12, to improve the access of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to comprehensive primary health care services. This funding is made available through over 200 organisations, most of which are Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs), to provide services that are responsive to the needs of local communities. This may include clinical services for the treatment of acute illnesses, management of chronic conditions, emergency care and specific interventions and referral. The funding also supports population health programs such as health promotion. The services provided meet identified community priorities.
For more information, please refer to the following pages:
- CDM Medicare items
- Allied health (individual) services under Medicare
- Allied health group services under Medicare for people with type 2 diabetes
- Reducing Kidney Disease in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders
- ABA funding supports 49 Northern Territory projects
- The Central Australian Renal Study Top of page
