Kidney transplant procedures halted at BBH

Urology centre’s operation theatre shut over spread of infection

RAWALPINDI:

The operation theatre of the only urology centre established in Benazir Bhutto General Hospital for a kidney transplant in government hospitals across Rawalpindi division has been closed due to the spread of infection owing to an increase in the number of patients.

Sources said owing to the closure of the operation theatre, the kidney transplant procedures of three patients were postponed.

The Rawalpindi Institute of Urology and Kidney Transplant (RIUT) established for kidney and liver transplant procedures has been under construction for the last 10 years.

Meanwhile, the illegal practice of kidney transplant in the private sector not only continues to thrive but in case of non-availability of donors based on blood relationship, kidney patients are resorting to the option of illegal kidney transplant at huge costs without completing the SOPs.

According to sources, kidney transplant is being done on a limited scale in the urology centre of Benazir Bhutto General Hospital with the approval of the Punjab Human Organ Transplant Authority (PHOTA).

Despite having only one operation theatre and insufficient capacity for admission, patients have to approach this centre for the only available option of kidney transplant for just a few thousand rupees.

The urology centre's operation theatre, where a large number of kidney patients are referred, was closed yesterday due to an outbreak of infection and the kidney transplant of three patients was postponed.

The Head of the Urology Department, Dr Zain Amir, said that the operation theatre has been closed due to the spread of infection and it will remain closed for four to five days.

“During this time, the process of disinfection will be continued and after the complete elimination of the infection, the process of kidney transplant of three patients will be started,” he said.

“Not only have these patients already been approved by the PHOTA but all the tests and medical procedures of the patients and the donors have been completed,” he added.

Dr Amir said that the LC has been opened for the delivery of four state-of-the-art operation theatres in RIUT and four operation theatres will reach the RIUT in the next three to four months following which the process of a kidney transplant will be started.

On the other hand, the PHOTA along with Rawalpindi police on Monday raided a private hospital involved in illegal organ transplants of patients and arrested 10 people including three doctors while three patients whose kidney transplant was completed were transferred to the Urology Centre of Benazir Bhutto General Hospital in a critical condition.

Seven patients whose kidney transplants were illegally performed disappeared from the said hospital, while a 65-year-old patient died.

After this operation by the PHOTA, the patients under treatment in different private hospitals in Rawalpindi, where illegal kidney transplant operations are performed, have been shifted to secret locations.

A nephrologist, on the condition of anonymity, told The Express Tribune that it was the most difficult process to get approval from the PHOTA to procure kidneys from donors other than blood relatives.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 15^th, 2023.