Kidney transplant services have been started in hospitals outside the Kathmandu Valley, as per the government’s policy to expand kidney transplant services in all seven provinces.
The government had made public the plan to expand the kidney transplant service to all seven provinces through the budget speech of the current fiscal year.
With the support of Bhaktapur-based Shahid Dharma Bhakta National Transplant Centre (SDNTC), the government will expand kidney transplant services to all seven provinces.
As per the government’s policy, kidney transplants were performed on two patients on a single day at Pokhara Academy of Health Sciences and Western Regional Hospital, Pokhara recently.
Earlier, the first kidney transplant was performed at the institute on June 23. A team led by Dr. Pukar Chandra Shrestha, executive director of SDNTC, performed two kidney transplants on a single day in Pokhara.
A 53-year-old man from Rupakot Rural Municipality, Kaski and a 42-year-old man from Chapakot Municipality, Syangja, underwent the transplants, according to Dr. Shrestha.
Dr. Shrestha said the centre is now preparing to conduct kidney transplants in Karnali and Lumbini provinces as well.
“Until the provinces are strong enough in kidney transplantation, the centre will continue to support,” said Dr. Shrestha.
Vice-chancellor of the Academy Dr. Duk Bahadur Chhetri said that kidney transplant services have been continued and regular kidney transplant will be at the academy.
He said the academy was moving ahead purposefully to make it self-reliant in transplant services.
Dr. Shrestha said that the Pokhara Academy of Health Sciences is also providing training to nephrologists, surgeons, anaesthesiologists, coordinators and OT and ICU nurses to make the institute self-reliant in transplant services.
According to the government’s policy, an agreement was reached between the Academy and the Centre to take forward the kidney transplant services.
As per the agreement, the centre will arrange for the necessary human resources and training for the academy and the centre team will assist until the academy itself becomes self-reliant and capable.
Source : TRN,
