Since the launch of kidney transplant services in Rwanda last year, all 32 recorded cases requiring such surgeries have been successfully handled within the country, Dr. Sabin Nsanzimana, the Minister of Health, told The New Times. Introduced in May last year, the services are provided at King Faisal Hospital (KFH). The program began with three living donor kidney transplants in the same month, marking a significant milestone in the government’s efforts to reduce expensive medical referrals abroad. Prior to the introduction of these services, the government had referred close to 70 patients to other countries for kidney transplants at a cost of over Rwf 800 million. A June 2023 article published by Rwandan doctors in the Rwanda Public Health Bulletin highlighted that while kidney transplants done abroad have provided Rwandan patients with survival opportunities, they are associated with significant financial implications. These include travel costs, accommodation, medical procedures, and post-operative care, in addition to the usual expenses associated with transplants. The cost of a kidney transplant in India, one of the cheapest treatment destinations, can range from $7,400 to $14,000 and depends on several factors including a patient's age, health, blood type compatibility, concomitant ailments, and hospital room preference. This does not take into account additional costs such as transportation. The cost for transplants is higher when the procedure is carried out in nations like the US, UK, and Germany. ALSO READ: King Faisal Hospital to conduct four kidney transplants this month “This can place a financial burden on patients and their families. Other challenges include language and cultural barriers in a foreign country, as well as legal and ethical issues since the regulations and ethical practices surrounding organ transplantation vary across countries,” the article noted. It further highlighted that patients who undergo kidney transplants abroad may face challenges in receiving follow-up care and ongoing management of their condition upon returning to their home country. “Coordinating medical records, accessing necessary medications, and finding healthcare providers knowledgeable about the patient's specific transplant can be significant hurdles. Lack of continuity of care is a major challenge faced by patients who get kidney transplants abroad due to the lack of skilled transplant specialists and infrastructure,” it stated. Nsanzimana anticipates that with the ongoing enhancement of health services, the need for renal transplant transfers abroad will decrease. He also expects the referral of patients to other countries for various conditions to diminish, while more people from across the continent and beyond will come to Rwanda for treatment. Meanwhile, in February, The New Times learned that patients suffering from chronic renal failure can get kidney transplant procedures covered by the community-based health insurance scheme (CBHI), commonly known as Mutuelle de Santé. In March 2023, the parliament passed a law regulating the use of the human body, organs, tissues, cells, and products of the human body for therapeutic, educational, or scientific purposes, paving the way for lifesaving medical procedures, including kidney transplants. The government, through the Ministry of Health, continues to upgrade KFH's infrastructure and equipment to enhance its capacity to perform kidney transplant procedures and various highly specialized medical services.
