Kidney Transplant in Zambia

A kidney transplant means transferring a healthy kidney from a person into the body of another individual. The person receives the new kidney because their existing kidneys are non-functional. This procedure is done to treat kidney failure. The new kidneys can come from living or deceased organ donors. Immediate family members, friends, and spouses can be living kidney donors, while deceased donor kidneys are from those who decide to donate their organs after they die.

In Zambia, a massive number of people have been suffering from chronic kidney disease, or CKD, that needs transplantation. This is especially the case for those with conditions like high blood pressure and diabetes. Earlier transplant operations needed patients to be evacuated abroad. But in 2020, Zambia’s major referral, the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) will provide kidney transplant treatment for free. The average cost of this procedure ranges from ZMW 400000 to ZMW 500000, or $19184 to $23980.

Average Cost of Kidney Transplant in Zambia

The cost of a kidney transplant procedure in Zambia can be high. Apart from the original cost, there are many other additional costs that patients and their families need to consider. These include consultation, the actual transplant procedure, post-operative care, medication, and follow-up appointments. All this can dramatically increase the average cost. 

Generally, this procedure is ZMW 494,947, which is $24,747. Note that the average cost of a kidney transplant is way more than other nephrology services like nephrectomy (removal of the kidneys), pyeloplasty (reconstruction of a part of the kidney), renal angiography, and angioplasty. Moreover, different kidney diseases have different costs. For example, if you are undergoing a deceased donor kidney transplant, it will cost different than a living donor kidney transplant. There are also robotic kidney transplants and pediatric kidney transplants, whose costs differ significantly. 

Types of Kidney Transplants and Their Costs in Zambia

Kidney transplantation is of three types. These include:

1. Deceased donor transplant: A deceased donor is one from whom a single solid organ is recovered for transplantation. The waiting time can be up to 10 years. It may exceed if the waiting list grows. 
2. Living donor transplant: A living donor is a live person (friend or family member of the patient) who donates their kidney for transplantation. If you find a living donor match, it minimizes your waiting time significantly and increases the likelihood of long-term survival.
3. Expanded criteria donor (ECD): It means a deceased donor over 60 years old. Patients over 60 or those who are diabetic and above 50 can consider an ECD transplant. 
4. Robotic kidney transplant: This is done through a computer console, wherein the nephrologist directs the motions of robotic arms to implant a kidney. This treatment has less risk of problems and high success rates.
5. Pediatric kidney transplant: This is a procedure in which a child with an end-stage renal disorder gets a donated kidney. Children with birth defects and genetic conditions are prescribed this treatment. 

Cost of Kidney Transplant in Major Cities of Zambia

Many big cities in Zambia, such as Lusaka, Ndola, and Livingstone have some of the best surgeons that perform kidney transplantation. In these cities, the average cost of the process varies slightly. It largely depends on the qualification of the surgeon and the technology at their disposal. Here is a list of the average cost of the procedure in all these cities.

Kidney Transplant Cost in Zambia Compared to Different Countries

Millions of people worldwide suffer from chronic kidney diseases. The waiting period for a transplant donor is quite high and so many people decide to have this operation as a private medical service abroad or in their own country. If you are going abroad for this treatment, you must factor in not only the transplant cost but also the cost of the flight, transportation in the country, accommodation, and post-operative charges. 

Some of the cheapest countries to get a kidney transplant are India, the Philippines, and Pakistan.

Factors Influencing the Cost of Kidney Transplant in Zambia

Many factors influence the final cost of kidney transplants in Zambia. These include

1. The cost of surgery, 
2. Location of treatment
3. Testing services
4. Follow-up tests, and care. 
5. Medications
6. The infrastructure of the hospital, p
7. Pricing policy of the hospital
8. The severity of the condition
9. Fees of nephrologist
10. Physical therapy 

How Much Does a Dialysis Machine Cost in Zambia?

Kidney dialysis is a way to treat many kidney diseases. Through this treatment, the defective kidneys can start doing things that healthy kidneys do. On average, the cost of kidney dialysis in Zambia ranges from ZK 30,000 to ZK 40,000 for every session. 

Usually, a patient requires three sessions of dialysis every week. So, you can multiply the cost and find an average one. It is important to talk to your doctor about the number of sessions that you or your loved ones will need in a week and calculate the cost accordingly.

Two factors that influence the cost of dialysis in Zambia are:

1. The type of clinic you choose 
2. Location of the clinic

Cost of the Types of Dialysis in Zambia Compared to Other African Countries

Dialysis is of two types, hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis. In the former, the blood is pumped away from the body of the patient to an artificial kidney machine. It is then returned to their body via tubes. In peritoneal dialysis, the natural filter is the lining inside your stomach. A cleansing fluid, dialysate, takes out the waste. These are then washed in and out of your stomach in cycles. 

Here’s an average cost comparison for dialysis in Zambia and other countries. 

How Much Is a Kidney Donor Paid in Zambia?

Humans do not need both of their kidneys to survive. Those with kidney diseases or those undergoing kidney transplants are helped by kidney donors There isn’t any definite information on how much a kidney donor is paid in Zambia. You will know this amount after consulting the surgeon. 

However, according to some reports, this amount varies significantly. A willing donor can get anywhere from $7000 to $30,000. This translates from ZK 147279 to ZK631197. 

When a donor donates this organ, they do not incur any kind of costs in this South African country. The Tissue Bank or hospital covers all the expenses related to the organ donation. Organ donation is treated as a gift and there isn’t any cost related to signing up as a tissue donor. 

Does Insurance Cover the Cost of a Kidney Transplant in Zambia?

Zambia implemented the National Health Insurance Act No. 2 in September 2019. It mandates a health insurance scheme to provide reliable healthcare financing for people in Zambia. The National Health Insurance Management Authority, or NHIMA supervises it. Contributions made to the health insurance cross-subsidize healthcare for the most needy.

The contributions to this program are based on your ability to pay. It has a 2% rate of basic salary for employees and a 1% rate of average income for business owners. The NHIS moves Zambians towards UHC as the social insurance program imparts critical care via risk pooling. The contributions of paying members subsidize the care of those who cannot contribute. 

How Successful Has Kidney Transplantation Been in Zambia?

Although not many kidney transplant operations have been performed in Zambia, the ones that have been done are successful. The recipient’s survival rate hovers at 84%, while the kidney and pancreas graft survival rates are 73.1% and 43.2%, respectively. This is a good statistic. As the country gains greater access to advanced technologies, this success rate is bound to go up. 

Some factors that dictate the success or failure of kidney transplants include:

• Absence or presence of donor-recipient relationship.
• Parent-to-offspring donations give the best success rates. After this, sibling transfers yielded good results. 
• Kidney transplants accruing from the organs of genetically unrelated donors minimize the success potential.
• Older people have a high risk.

Can Kidney Transplants Be Done for Free in Zambia?

The University Teaching Hospital (UTH) is a major referral hospital in Zambia. This hospital is eliminating the burden of patients seeking kidney transplant treatment at high costs from abroad. It will provide this treatment for free to all the needy Zambians. It exemplifies the willingness of the country’s government to transform the health sector. This announcement shows that Zambia has become self-sufficient and ready to meet the health needs of every citizen.

The Kidney Transplant Centre at UTH is the result of two MoUs between India and Zambia. These MoUs focused on transferring the skills of specialized medical services. The rightful surgical interventions will now ensure that every kind of patient is able to get treated without expending a lot of money. 

Who was the First Person to Be Transplanted a Kidney in Zambia?

Dr. Job Kasweshi was the first person to have his kidney transplanted when he was suffering from the last stage of kidney failure. The Republican President of Zambia, in consultation with the Ministry of Health, announced the transplant date as 24th October 2018. 

This is also Zambia’s Independence Day. On this historic day, the first kidney transplant in Zambia by Dr. Kasweshi took place. It was a highly successful procedure. 

How Do You Find a Kidney Donor If There Is No Compatibility with Family Members?

A match between a living kidney donor and a transplant recipient means biological compatibility between both these persons. Compatibility is determined by evaluating the blood type, tissue type, and crossmatching. If you cannot find a donor because of incompatibility with a family member, you may consider a paired kidney exchange. It is also called ‘kidney swap. Your surgeon will do it if a living kidney donor is incompatible with you. That donor will exchange kidneys with another donor or recipient pair. So, two live donor transplants would occur. 

Donor 1 will give a kidney to the second recipient, and donor 2 will give a kidney to recipient 1. This process of transplant lets two incompatible recipients receive healthy kidneys.

Patient Reviews After Kidney Transplant

Many people, after undergoing kidney transplants in Zambia report significant improvements in the quality of their lives. Their fears of mortality decrease, which makes them enjoy life like others. Also, the fears of returning to dialysis also clear up to a certain extent. Patients do not report any complications or discomfort. 

If done by an experienced nephrologist, the bodies of patients do not show any signs of kidney rejection. The feelings of gratitude and happiness reign supreme in the minds of patients. 

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is dialysis cheaper than a kidney transplant?

No, a kidney transplant is cheaper than dialysis. The average cost of peritoneal dialysis is $5984 a year. The cost does not become cheaper but only increases over time. So, transplantation is the ideal solution.

2. How long can my kidney transplant last?

If you have a transplanted kidney from a living donor, it can last for up to 25 years. But if you have undergone a deceased donor kidney transplantation, the new organ may last up to 20 years.

3. How is kidney dialysis paid for?

Some medical schemes and insurance companies do have dialysis programs that can fund peritoneal or hemodialysis. They can also cover the medicines used in end-stage renal disease. 

4. Can I live with one kidney?

Yes, if you have a single healthy kidney, you can live a normal life with minimal problems. You may face some high blood pressure later in life, but it is not very serious.

5. Are there any side effects of kidney transplants?

Yes, kidney transplant surgeries can cause many complications. These include blood clots, bleeding, infection, or cancer passing on from the donated kidney to the patient. The rejection of the donated kidney or its failure is also a major complication

Top Kidney Transplant Surgeons in Zambia