SMC doctors to perform 12 kidney transplant surgeries

The Kingdom's largest hospital will be able to handle 12 kidney transplant surgeries this year, it emerged.

According to Health Ministry officials, the organ transplant programmes are progressing at a rapid pace at Salmaniya Medical Complex.

This follows the successful completion of 10 kidney transplant surgeries last year. 

Among the surgeries performed was the case of a 30-year-old man who donated his kidney to his younger brother. 

Health Ministry sources said Bahraini doctors are well-equipped to carry out the procedures after seeking international expertise, especially from Jordan if required.

Recently, it was announced that the Kingdom's first ever liver transplant will be performed this year.

The Minister of Health, Faeqa Al Saleh, who was responding to a query by a parliamentarian said that Bahrain expects to make great strides in its organ transplant programmes this year. 

The minister also revealed that around 10 kidney transplant surgeries take place, on an average, in the Kingdom every year.

She added that Bahraini doctors are being continuously being trained to perform such surgeries.  

Around 700 patients visit Salmaniya Medical Complex and the government dialysis facility in Busaiteen to undergo dialysis three times per week.

According to Consultant Nephrologist at Salmaniya Medical Complex Dr Ali Hassan Al Aradi, a large number of people have also been receiving the dialysis treatment at the Bahrain Defence Force Royal Medical Service, the Kingdom's military hospital.

He said that there are others who receive treatment from home. The doctor said prevalence of kidney disease is also causing people to undergo kidney transplant.

He said that such demand of kidney treatment also necessitates services of more doctors and specialists and there for the government may need to be hire more doctors to meet the requirements.

He added that obesity, diabetes and stress are all big contributors to kidney disease. He urged the public to maintain a good weight and adopt healthy lifestyle choices.