The primary care provider’s role in providing supportive and palliative care for patients in chronic renal failure

Primary care providers are at the core of providing supportive and palliative care to patients with chronic kidney disease in South Africa. Although dialysis is not always needed, and sometimes not appropriate, for all patients with end-stage kidney disease, there is always supportive and palliative care that can be provided to patients and families to improve outcomes. This article explores the referral pathways, renal preservation, supportive and palliative care and, finally, health system interventions that can improve comprehensive care. The integration of renal supportive and palliative care is a relatively new concept in the paradigm of care and will require advocacy and research to ensure all South African patients have access throughout the trajectory of illness.