In the last seven years, Rwanda has sent 67 patients for kidney transplants abroad, where it costs $12,000 (over Rwf12 million) per patient. This cites a major issue in terms of the country’s expenditure on treatment of Rwandans abroad not to mention the risk factor of time wasted by the patient as travel arrangements are being made to undergo the surgery. That’s why when the government tabled a bill in the Chamber of Deputies to establish legislation that will govern transplant surgery services and teaching programmes for fellowship, an opportunity arose to lessen this burden, improve and ease access to kidney and liver transplants. Seeking these services abroad bears a burden not only for the government but for patients too. Aside from the obvious financial constraint, a lot goes into receiving treatment from a foreign country which at times worsens the already agile state of suffering a severe ailment. But with such services readily available at home, patients will be guaranteed smooth access to treatment close to their friends and family members. Hopefully, this will also reduce mortality from such ailments. Liver or kidney transplantation is not readily available in many African countries, and as a country, this development comes with so much pride and optimism. For Rwanda to take such a step towards this is a milestone that will improve the country’s health sector and feed into the government’s broader ambition of becoming a regional hub of medical services. The additional benefit is that the country is already equipped with the required tools and medical personnel to perform kidney transplants, as mentioned by the Minister of Health. However, the legal framework alone is not enough. We will need more, including developing the requisite capacity of local doctors to be able to undertake such complex surgeries and also ensure our medical facilities have the latest equipment and technology for the same.
