Renal health and transplantation: a focus on ethnicity

It is widely acknowledged within the United Kingdom that there are significant inequalities in renal health and transplant services--in relation to demand for, access to and waiting times for these services--between minority ethnic groups in particular. This phenomenon is not unique to the United Kingdom and affects many other countries that have a strong tradition of immigration. The solutions to reducing these inequalities are multi-faceted and require both short-term and long-term policy and resource-driven initiatives. In the short term, there is an urgent need to increase the number of organ donors from minority ethnic groups which will positively impact upon improved access to transplantation and contribute to reduced waiting times. The increase in donor registration can only be achieved if there are evidence-based, concerted and adequately resourced efforts to engage with minority ethnic communities at grass-roots level. In the long term, public health interventions are required that proactively seek to prevent and manage long-term conditions among the United Kingdom's multi-ethnic and multi-faith population, thereby reducing the demand for transplantation.