ISLAMABAD: After removing differences between the nephrology and urology departments, Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) has decided to resume kidney transplantation from next month.

“We have started registration of patients and hopefully will transplant two kidneys every week. Kidney transplant was started in late 1990s at the hospital but it was discontinued. A few transplants were carried out in 2012-13 but again the service was stopped. Now it has been decided that free of cost treatment would be provided to patients,” Pims Executive Director Dr Raja Amjad told Dawn.

“There were differences between senior doctors of the nephrology and urology departments. When I called them, they were even not ready to sit together. I told them that they have to cooperate with each other in the best interest of the patients.”

Dr Amjad said the urology department made the fistula (an artificial vein or track for the blood which is used for dialysis) and the nephrology department dealt with kidneys so harmonisation between the two departments was necessary.

We have started registration of patients and hopefully will transplant two kidneys every week, says hospital’s executive director

“We have decided to hold the next meeting on June 24 in which all the arrangements would be finalised so that we can restart transplantations,” he said.

A doctor of Pims, who is not authorised to speak on record, added that kidney diseases were increasing across the country and poor people could not afford the treatment. One of the major reasons behind kidney diseases is that people do not drink sufficient water.

Moreover, our food which mainly consists of meat and salt has become a reason for kidney diseases. Another reason, especially for kidney cancers, is chemical pollutants in water and environment. On the other hand, because of the unavailability of transplants at public sector hospitals, private hospitals have made the kidney transplant a business, he said.

“Private hospitals are also involved in sale/purchase of kidneys. A hospital in Islamabad was stopped from kidney transplants. However, when an additional secretary of a ministry required a renal transplant the hospital was again allowed to start transplants,” he said.

The Human Organ Transplant Authority (HOTA) was last year placed under the Ministry of National Health Services (NHS). The main objective of HOTA is to control and stop illegal human organ trade, sale of human organs to foreigners and formulate rules and regulations for removal, surgery and transplantation of human organs and tissues for therapeutic purposes. Dr Amjad said even the registration of Pims could not be renewed with HOTA for many years.

“We have recently deposited the renewal fees for kidney, eye and bone marrow transplants. Moreover, we have also established an ethic committee, chaired by general surgeon Prof Tanveer Khaliq, to ensure that a donor willingly donated a kidney.

“There will also be a psychiatrist in the committee and both the patient and donor will be interviewed. Not only consent of the donor will be sought but they will also be briefed on how a person can live a normal life after donating a kidney,” he said. In reply to a question, he said spouse and blood relatives would be allowed to donate kidneys.

“We have started registration on first come first serve basis and the citizens are requested to contact the hospital at the earliest as it requires cross matching the patient and the donor,” he said.

In Pakistan, there is no trend of donating body organs after death. If a person donates their organs after death, it can benefit 27 people needing them. Due to its unavailability, human organs are mostly sold in the black market and a number of health institutions and departments are involved in it.

Published in Dawn, June 12th, 2018