Kuwait set to introduce advanced liver, heart, and lung transplants

• Dr. Ahmed Al-Awadhi, the Minister of Health, said the National Kidney Transplant Program achieved a record milestone in 2024 by successfully transplanting 149 kidneys, with a success rate exceeding 96%.

Dr. Ahmed Al-Awadhi, the Minister of Health, announced that Kuwait is preparing to launch new organ transplant programs, including liver, heart, and pancreas transplants, along with the upcoming lung transplant program. The ministry continues to support these initiatives following the success of previous programs, such as stem cell and pancreas transplants, according to Al Jarida newspaper.

Minister Al-Awadhi, in his opening speech at the Fourth Gulf Conference on Kidney Diseases and Transplantation on Thursday, announced that the National Kidney Transplant Program achieved a record milestone in 2024 by successfully transplanting 149 kidneys, with a success rate exceeding 96%.

He highlighted that last year also marked the inauguration of the Kuwait Center for Kidney Diseases and Transplantation in the Al-Sabah area. The center, with a capacity of 80 beds, is equipped with the latest medical devices and staffed by a team of distinguished medical professionals.

Kidney exchanges between families

Furthermore, a transplant department was launched at Jaber Al-Ahmad Hospital last March, signifying a qualitative leap in the nation’s kidney care. Minister Al-Awadhi noted that the National Kidney Transplant Program also introduced a pioneering initiative enabling kidney exchanges between families.

This initiative represents a significant step towardsimproving patients’ chances of receiving transplants by expanding the pool of donors, thereby enhancing the success rates of operations and alleviating patient suffering.

Advancing healthcare

Dr. Turki Al-Otaibi, Head of the Department of Nephrology at the Kuwait Center for Nephrology, President of the Kuwait Society for Organ Transplantation, and President of the Conference, stated that the conference serves as a distinguished medical platform aimed at fostering collaboration and advancing healthcare in kidney diseases and transplantation.

He emphasized the global importance of addressing kidney diseases, which affect approximately ten percentof the world’s population, with millions suffering from kidney failure annually due to inadequate access to treatment.

Dr. Al-Otaibi further explained that this challenge is particularly acute in developing countries, where shortages of dialysis equipment and high treatment costs strain healthcare budgets.

Dr. Anas Al-Yousef, Head of the Kidney Unit at JaberHospital and President of the Kuwait Association of Nephrology, expressed concern over the increasing prevalence of kidney diseases, particularly chronic kidney failure. He noted that most patients are unaware of their condition.

According to global statistics, kidney diseases are projected to become the fifth leading cause of death worldwide by 2040. This alarming trend underscores the responsibility of medical professionals to intensify efforts to mitigate these numbers.