KitNewCare: Transforming Kidney Healthcare Across Europe
KitNewCare – part of the European Union’s key funding programme for innovation and research to tackle climate change and achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The programme also part funded by Innovate UK will transform the delivery of kidney care across Europe. The trailblazing project team will reduce the environmental impact, improve patient outcomes with a key focus on preventative healthcare to improve population health across Europe. The project started in January 2024 and will end in December 2027.
At the heart of this initiative is a pressing issue: according to the World Economic Forum in 2022 the healthcare industry globally is one of the most environmentally burdensome sectors contributing to an alarming total of approx. 5% of carbon emissions at a global level (Health Care Without Harm, 2023). Within this context, kidney care emerges as an ideal candidate for systemic change due to its substantial disease burden, resource footprint and well-defined care pathways and ecosystem. It also accounts for approximately 10% of the healthcare’s environmental impact.
KitNewCare tackles this challenge by identifying and addressing the major health, environmental, financial, and social factors affecting healthcare delivery. The project goes beyond the traditional focus on energy consumption – where carbon reduction has been historically focused. The project will focus on efficiencies in clinical practice with a focus on preventative care, clinical pathways and technical innovations – all of which have an impact of kidney care’s carbon footprint. The project employs a systematic approach to piloting and benchmarking interventions, holistically assessing their effectiveness. It will align with major EU initiatives which call for the development, implementation, and upscaling of sustainable solutions throughout the healthcare landscape.
"The KitNewCare project represents a pivotal step towards aligning kidney care with SDGs both at national level and in line with the EU Green Deal's objectives," stated Brett Duane, Principal Investigator at Trinity College Dublin. "Our vision is to revolutionise healthcare practices by introducing sustainable technologies and methodologies that minimise environmental impact without compromising patient care. By embedding social responsibility and environmental consciousness into our work, we aim not only to improve patient outcomes but also pave the way for a more sustainable healthcare sector. We believe that KitNewCare, with the expertise of our European partners, will serve as a beacon of sustainability, inspiring others to adopt sustainable practices and foster a greener healthcare future."
A key element of KitNewCare's approach is the involvement of a range of stakeholders – including patients, healthcare professionals, NGOs, industry partners, and policymakers. Tangible benefits to this approach are the development of training and capacity-building materials, as well as policy briefs and recommendations. The former aims at providing training in sustainable skills to different health and care professionals across the EU. The latter will provide guidelines to support ongoing and future policy strategies and agendas to decarbonise the EU healthcare system and mandate change.
Furthermore, the establishment of a Sustainability Network will ensure the continuity of the project outcomes and embed sustainable change across our health systems beyond the project completion. . The project commits to establishing evidence-based governance mechanisms, supported by life cycle assessments (LCAs), providing healthcare professionals tools for benchmarking and measuring sustainability improvements.
Ultimately, KitNewCare aspires to set new standards in kidney care – delivering high-quality, cost-effective, accessible, and sustainable solutions, including technical innovations. The project's end vision extends beyond kidney care, aiming to influence other medical fields and contribute to a more sustainable future for the entire healthcare system.
Contacts:
Project Investigator:
Brett Duane, Trinity College Dublin, brettdu@tcd.ie
Lead Project Manager:
Anita Griffin, Trinity College Dublin, griffia8@tcd.ie
Communication Manager:
Cesar G. Crisosto, ICONS, cesar.crisosto@icons.it
Centre for Sustainable Healthcare Lead – Dr Frances Mortimer frances.mortimer@sustainablehealthcare.org.uk
Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of HADEA. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
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