Transplant demand outpaces facilities

Patients face long wait despite govt scheme of free surgeries

LAHORE:

Despite investment in the healthcare sector and expansion of the chief minister's free transplant programme, hundreds of patients suffering from life threatening organ failure face prolonged wait due to limited transplantation facilities available in Lahore.

Only a handful of government and private hospitals in the provincial capital are equipped to perform liver, kidney, bone marrow, corneal and cochlear transplant.

The shortage of transplant facilities has resulted in growing pressure on them, forcing many patients to endure delays before receiving potentially life saving treatment.

According to official figures, a total of 1,944 transplant procedures have been completed under the CM transplant programme. They include 311 liver and 960 kidney transplants carried out for eligible patients free of charge. Additionally, 601 cochlear, 40 bone marrow and as many corneal transplant procedures have been successfully performed under the government funded initiative.

However, healthcare experts and patients' families argue that the growing demand for transplant services has outpaced the available infrastructure. Many patients reportedly wait for months to secure appointments, complete evaluations and receive approval for surgery.

A health department official said the majority of liver and kidney transplant surgeries in the city were currently being performed at the Pakistan Kidney and Liver Institute (PKLI).

Most bone marrow transplant cases are being handled by the Lahore Children's Hospital.

The official added that kidney transplant facilities were also operational at the Jinnah and Lahore General Hospitals, while several private institutions were also participating in the programme.

Official reports show that about Rs2.5 billion has been allocated for the transplant initiative. However, the cumulative cost of various transplant procedures conducted under the programme has already exceeded Rs4.87 billion, highlighting the enormous financial burden associated with advanced organ replacement.

Officials maintain that deserving patients continue to receive free treatment in both public and private sector healthcare facilities.

The Punjab Health Initiative Management Company (PHIMC), which administers the scheme, says financial barriers are being removed for low income families unable to afford such costly procedures.

According to an official, the patients must first undergo registration and receive approval from the Punjab Human Organ Transplantation Authority (PHOTA).

Once authorisation is granted, the expenses associated with the transplant are directly paid to hospitals by the State Life Insurance Corporation under the government-backed healthcare framework.