Manifesto of the National Association of Nephrologists
Dear colleagues,
The creation of the Association of Nephrologists by our nephrology community is neither a tribute to fashion nor an opportunistic move. It is an objective necessity: to draw the attention of the public and the state authorities to the problems of nephrology as a whole, of nephrologists and, in particular, of our patients.
No one but us has real and objective information about the state of nephrology in Russia, the scientific and practical directions of its development and the priority tasks facing the nephrology community.
The Association of Nephrologists must become a link in the structure of public and state governance — an organisation able to influence decisions in nephrology research and clinical practice, the development of national regulatory documents in nephrology, including clinical guidelines, the education of nephrologists and the training of young specialists.
The Association of Nephrologists is also the bridge that must connect the interests of patient organisations and the state authorities.
The idea of preserving the nation as the most important condition for the sovereignty and prosperity of Russia, put forward by the great thinker and patriot of our country M.V. Lomonosov, underlies state policy and has been declared one of the key strategic priorities. Yet nephrology, as a science and a clinical discipline, still remains in the shadow of other chronic non-communicable diseases.
We therefore set ourselves ambitious but entirely achievable goals:
- representing the interests and protecting the legal rights of the Association’s members in their relations with state authorities, local governments and public associations;
- drafting and submitting to the relevant authorities proposals for amendments to the legislation of the Russian Federation, as well as drafts of new regulations in nephrology;
- helping members of the Association improve their professional skills through congresses, scientific and practical conferences, seminars and other events, and publishing and supporting the Association’s journal;
- taking part in the certification of healthcare professionals;
- helping to create a system of legal protection for healthcare professionals and medical organisations in their dealings with patients, legal entities and other parties to professional relations;
- providing expert and advisory assistance in practical nephrology with the involvement of leading Russian nephrology specialists and experts;
- publishing scientific, educational, methodological, informational and reference literature, including periodicals and other printed and electronic materials, on nephrology, related fields and the promotion of a healthy lifestyle;
- carrying out information activities in electronic, print and other media and information networks aimed at achieving the Association’s goals, promoting a healthy lifestyle, educating the public, and organising preventive activities to prevent disease among the population.
We hope that the Association of Nephrologists will bring together not only practising nephrologists, but also university departments, research teams, members of related professional communities, publishers, clinical residents and postgraduate students.
President of the Association of Nephrologists,
Honoured Doctor of the Russian Federation, Honoured Scientist of the Russian Federation,
MD, DSc, Professor
A.V. Vatazin