Mulago National Referral Hospital successfully initiated its transplant program, marked by a triumphant kidney transplant surgery last Wednesday.
Dr. Frank Asiimwe, head of the Transplant Unit, revealed that the recipient, who had been grappling with end-stage kidney disease for two years, finally underwent surgery after an extended period on dialysis.
Initially, preparations for the inaugural surgery began four months ago with four pairs, but the team executed the first pair in a swift four-hour procedure.
Remarkably, experts from Yashoda Hospital in India accomplished the transplant in just fifty minutes of ischemic time.
Statistics from the Ministry of Health indicate that thirteen percent of Ugandans are affected by kidney disease, with the majority managing mild cases successfully.
However, two percent face end-stage disease, necessitating life-saving transplant surgery. Over a thousand such patients eagerly await surgery, previously hindered by the exorbitant cost of seeking treatment abroad, ranging from fifteen to thirty thousand United States dollars.
Health Minister Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng announced that future patients undergoing this surgery will be required to pay, though the inaugural case was treated free of charge, thanks to government support providing all necessary resources.
Dr. Aceng urged Mulago Hospital administration to conduct a cost analysis of the first procedure, encompassing medicines and surgeries, to determine the average cost of future surgeries under the program.
The Mulago team, consisting of three transplant surgeons, awaits guidance from their Indian colleagues returning next year to fully establish the program.
Dr. Aceng appealed to the government to lift the ban on recruitment for specialized services, enabling the hiring of additional staff to augment the current transplant team.
Despite the initial success, experts caution against premature celebration, emphasizing that organ rejection may occur months or even years after surgery.
Dr. Aceng revealed that, following the president’s approval in March, private hospitals have expressed readiness to offer organ transplant services, subject to thorough vetting. Approved facilities will be granted authorization to proceed with such life-saving procedures.