{"id":470779,"date":"2026-06-01T14:30:12","date_gmt":"2026-06-01T14:30:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/470779\/"},"modified":"2026-06-01T14:30:12","modified_gmt":"2026-06-01T14:30:12","slug":"9m-pilot-initiative-to-integrate-palliative-care-into-chronic-kidney-disease-treatment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/470779\/","title":{"rendered":"$9m pilot initiative to integrate palliative care into chronic kidney disease treatment"},"content":{"rendered":"

SINGAPORE \u2013 The National Kidney Foundation (NKF) and three major public hospitals here are providing palliative care to patients with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD), under a $9 million, four-year pilot programme supported by the Lien Foundation.<\/p>\n

Called Renalssance, the initiative seeks to challenge the \u201cdialysis by default\u201d mindset by integrating palliative care into the treatment journey much earlier, relieving patients\u2019 symptoms, pain and stress alongside active medical care.<\/p>\n

The hospitals \u2013 National University Hospital, Singapore General Hospital (SGH) and Tan Tock Seng Hospital \u2013 each represent one of the three healthcare clusters that oversee care across Singapore.<\/p>\n

Renalssance is expected to benefit more than 5,260 patients over four years \u2013 1,500 from each hospital, and 760 from NKF.<\/p>\n

Taking palliative support upstream ensures that CKD patients also have the option of choosing not to do dialysis but to get palliative care, the five partners said in a joint statement on June 1.<\/p>\n

This allows for care plans that address not only the patients\u2019 medical needs, but also their functional, emotional and psychosocial well-being.<\/p>\n

Many people often assume dialysis is the default treatment for kidney failure because it is widely recognised and commonly presented as the only alternative to a transplant.<\/p>\n

However, it is not always the best choice. For frail seniors and those with severe medical conditions such as cancer and cardiovascular disease, it is often less effective in extending lifespan. They can also suffer from nausea, muscle cramps, headaches and other issues, said Kwek Jia Liang, a senior consultant at SGH\u2019s renal medicine department.<\/p>\n

International studies have shown that for patients aged 80 and above who have multiple illnesses, starting dialysis may extend their lives by only about two years. Much of this remaining time, however, is spent in healthcare settings owing to dialysis complications, he said.<\/p>\n

CKD affects 14 per cent of Singaporeans today \u2013 higher than the global average of 10 per cent. This disease is projected to affect one in four by 2035.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Kidney dialysis patient Job Loei, 60, undergoing cannulation using an ultrasound-guided device on a technological advancement that NKF had adopted as part of its two-engine strategy in enhancing its services.<\/p>\n

ST PHOTO: DESMOND WEE<\/p>\n

Previously, palliative care would be offered towards the end of life,<\/a> if it was made available at all. Renalssance hopes to change that. It involves training nurses to proactively identify and counsel CKD patients earlier on their options, before they reach end-stage kidney failure.<\/p>\n

At SGH, for instance, two nurses have been having palliative care conversations with patients.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe identify patients who are going to reach kidney failure in a year or two. Even though they are still feeling pretty okay, that\u2019s when we should start talking to them about all the options they have,\u201d Kwek told The Straits Times.<\/p>\n

However, it can be a challenge. \u201cThere are patients asking us, \u2018Why am I seeing you?\u2019, even though their kidney function is at less than 20 per cent,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

This occurs when the patient is in the fourth of the five stages of CKD. They may start to have sleeping problems and feel weaker, but they tend to view these as part of ageing rather than signs of a progressive illness, he said.<\/p>\n

At some point, patients at this stage of kidney disease and their caregivers will have to think about whether or not to go for dialysis.<\/p>\n

With Renalssance, patients with advanced CKD at the three hospitals will eventually be offered early palliative care, regardless of whether they opt for dialysis or non-dialysis care.<\/p>\n

This involves providing treatments that relieve symptoms and suffering, identifying and honouring patients\u2019 wishes, supporting caregivers, and striking a balance between medical intervention and quality of life.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Under Renalssance, patients with advanced chronic kidney disease at the three hospitals will eventually be offered early palliative care, regardless of whether they opt for dialysis or non-dialysis care.<\/p>\n

ST PHOTO: DESMOND WEE<\/p>\n

For patients who opt for dialysis, palliative care will be provided concurrently with their dialysis treatment.<\/p>\n

At NKF dialysis centres, patients who have commenced dialysis will now be monitored more closely for their overall well-being.<\/p>\n

Those who choose non-dialysis care will be referred to suitable community care providers such as active ageing centres, home care services or hospices, depending on their needs.<\/p>\n

They will continue to be overseen by their primary nephrologist at the hospital, who will drive each patient\u2019s treatment plans. They can opt for dialysis, should they change their minds.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"SINGAPORE \u2013 The National Kidney Foundation (NKF) and three major public hospitals here are providing palliative care to…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":470780,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[34],"tags":[163,521,85,46],"class_list":["post-470779","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-healthcare","tag-health","tag-healthcare","tag-il","tag-israel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/470779","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=470779"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/470779\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/470780"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=470779"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=470779"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=470779"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}