Since the launch of kidney transplant services in Rwanda last year, all 32 cases requiring such procedures have been successfully managed locally, according to Dr. Sabin Nsanzimana, the Minister of Health.
The services, which began at King Faisal Hospital (KFH) in May last year, started with three living donor kidney transplants, marking a key achievement in the government’s goal to cut down on costly medical referrals abroad.
Before these services were introduced, nearly 70 patients had been referred overseas for kidney transplants, with costs exceeding Rwf 800 million.
A June 2023 article by Rwandan doctors in the Rwanda Public Health Bulletin emphasized that while kidney transplants abroad have offered Rwandan patients life-saving opportunities, they come with significant financial burdens.
These burdens include travel expenses, accommodation, medical procedures, and post-operative care, along with the typical costs associated with transplants.
In India, one of the more affordable destinations for such treatments, the cost of a kidney transplant ranges from $7,400 to $14,000, depending on factors like the patient’s age, health, blood type compatibility, other medical conditions, and hospital room preference. This estimate excludes additional expenses like transportation.
Costs are even higher for transplants performed in countries like the US, UK, and Germany.
“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, as the regulations and ethical practices surrounding organ transplantation vary across countries,” the article noted.
It also highlighted that patients who undergo kidney transplants abroad may encounter difficulties in receiving follow-up care and ongoing management of their condition upon returning home.
“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.
In February, it was announced that patients suffering from chronic renal failure can have kidney transplant procedures covered by the community-based health insurance scheme (CBHI), also known as Mutuelle de Santé.
In March 2023, parliament passed a law regulating the use of human bodies, organs, tissues, cells, and human body products for therapeutic, educational, or scientific purposes. This law enables lifesaving medical procedures, including kidney transplants.
The government, through the Ministry of Health, is continuously upgrading the infrastructure and equipment at King Faisal Hospital (KFH) to enhance its capacity to perform kidney transplant procedures and other highly specialized medical services.