Daily Times

The Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH) has launched its first kidney transplant centre in Karachi. An awareness event was organized by AKUH, attended by the media, different nephrologists, dialysis centre managers of Karachi, general physicians and endocrinologists of AKUH, as well as recently treated patients of the kidney transplant centre.

The purpose of the event was to increase awareness about the comprehensive kidney transplant services available at AKUH and to develop a relationship with dialysis centre managers and nephrologists.

To enhance the knowledge of patients regarding Kidney Transplants and to answer related queries, the experts at AKUH presented a detailed presentation highlighting some of the main concerns patients have regarding pre and post kidney transplants. The team advised patients to consider getting a transplant before opting for a dialysis, as it is believed that kidney damage tends to get worse as one shifts to dialysis. “Dialysis is an option, but life is difficult and there may still be many problems involved. With a renal transplant they would be as normal as any person and can lead a normal life,” narrated Consultant Nephrology Dr. Kunwar Naveed.

The highly qualified team at The Aga Khan University Hospital only advises patients regarding the correct path of treatment after proper examination.

Providing services under one roof-AKUH is profiling transplant services for difficult and complex cases that would not be treated by other hospitals”, says CEO AKUH

At the event, a former kidney transplant patient from Balochistan Gang Ali who was treated at AKUH spoke, “I travelled to different countries to explore the option of kidney transplant, but no other hospital could satisfy me or make me believe that the transplant decision was right. The team at the Aga Khan University Hospital is always available at any hour of the day to assist. I urge all dialysis patients to consider the option of kidney transplant at the Aga Khan University Hospital.”

The Kidney Transplant Programme at AKUH is for every suitably qualified End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) patient, irrespective of ethnicity, geographical or socio-economic background. AKUH offers Patient Welfare and Zakat to financially support those who are eligible. Each year the Hospital spends over USD 20 million on Patient Welfare reaching over 700,000 people.

AKUH’s Kidney Transplant programmer follows stringent international and local legal medical practices, which are ethical and highly regulated to safeguard both recipients and donors.

The programme provides exceptional care through customized treatment plans and is one of the very few of its kind that accepts complex cases in Pakistan. “The Aga Khan University hospital offers all services under one roof. When it comes to renal transplant, AKUH is profiling these transplant services for even more difficult and complex cases that would not be treated by other hospitals”, CEO AKUH Hans Kedzierski.

In addition to ESRD patients AKUH’s transplant team, after extensive assessment, also offers pre-emptive kidney transplants. Though the preference and advice is to have a blood-related donor, the team can also consider patients with unrelated donors, subject to (i) an institutional review process that assesses the donor and recipient for ethical/emotional suitability and (ii) an approval from the Human Organ Transplantation Authority, Sindh (SHOTA).

AKUH’s kidney programme lead Professor and Head, Kidney Transplant AKUH Dr. Jan Ringers has over 30 years of experience, which includes conducting more than 1,000 kidney transplants. “Most transplants in this part of the world are performed by Urologists, but here at the Aga Khan University Hospital, along with the multi disciplinary team and myself, a Kidney Transplant surgeon, make sure we provide the patient with the care they need. Why is it important? It improves the quality of life.” Dr. Jan Ringers added.

More so, the Aga Khan University Hospital tends to offer all medical services to their patients under one roof, including urology, infectious diseases, haematology, vascular surgery, pulmonology, cardiology, psychiatry, and dentistry and dermatology in a bid to ensure that all of the patients’ needs can be met promptly and efficiently.

In addition to the quaternary care hospital in Karachi, AKUH has a network of 4 secondary care hospitals, over 25 Medical Centres, and over 260 Clinical Laboratories in over 115 cities across Pakistan. It also has pharmacies and offers Home Healthcare Services.

Published in Daily Times, January 22^nd 2019.