For quite some time, issues related to the kidneys have become very common. Millions of individuals are affected by this issue. A small percentage of patients with advanced kidney failure may require a kidney transplant surgery. Kidney transplant is mainly suggested if the individual is suffering from a severe or chronic disease. This removes the need for kidney dialysis. In Saudi Arabia, there are numerous hospitals which perform kidney transplant surgeries at a reasonable cost.
Selecting an appropriate hospital to do the operation is a very important exercise. Over the past few years, kidney transplant hospitals in Saudi Arabia have acquired a global reputation due to the experienced surgeons and the patient-centered care approach. Some of the finest kidney transplant hospitals will be discovered in this blog in Saudi Arabia.
What is a Kidney Transplant?
It is a process where a faulty kidney is substituted with a healthy kidney that is donated by a living or a dead donor. Kidneys have the primary role of filtering the blood waste and converting it into urine. When the kidneys cease to filter the waste will start accumulating within, and this can be fatal. It is advised to cure this with the help of a kidney transplant. Kidney failure can happen due to various conditions, including diabetes, hypertension, repetitive kidney infections, etc.
When the functionality of the kidney drops below 15%, patients suffer from end-stage renal disease. At this stage, patients are required to have dialysis or a transplant surgery. Kidney dialysis is a long term treatment solution, as it delays the need for surgery and removes the waste from the body. It is a slow process and has an impact you daily life. On the other hand, a kidney transplant is a long term treatment for the kidney related issue that requires life long follow ups. A successful transplant offers increased life expectancy, freedom from medical procedures and overall a better life.
Types of Kidney Transplant
There are various kinds of kidney transplantations to consider. Various kinds of transplantation will make your decision easier regarding which hospital is the most suitable for undergoing such operations.
Living Donor Kidney Transplant
A human body has 2 kidneys and can live a normal life with one kidney only. In this transplant, a healthy living person donates one of their kidneys to the patient. A living donor is most likely to be a relative, spouse or a non-related person with high compatibility. The waiting time for this surgery is very low and has better results in the long run, but it depends on donor availability and transplant type.
Deceased Donor Kidney Transplant
In this, the kidney is donated by a deceased donor. In order to become a deceased donor you must register yourself as an organ donor. This expands the donor list but also increases the waiting time to find a suitable donor.
Preemptive Kidney Transplant
This transplant is performed before the kidney reaches the point where it might need dialysis. This surgery has long-term health benefits and avoids any type of strain linked to dialysis.
Top Kidney Transplant Hospitals in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia is growing very fast in the healthcare sector. They have one of the most advanced healthcare institutions in the world. The hospitals for kidney transplant in Saudi Arabia offer internationally trained specialists, a high success rate and post transplant care. Below are some of the best hospitals for kidney transplant in Saudi Arabia.
King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre, Riyadh
It is a non-profit institution, primarily serving the citizens via government referrals. KFSHRC is considered the gold standard for organ transplantation in Saudi Arabia. This hospital is ranked in the top 20 academic medical centres in the whole world. Since 1981, they have done more than 5000 kidney transplant surgeries. GlobeNewswire reports that the most successful cases of kidney transplant surgeries done in the world are carried out in the hospital in relation to the children. In KFSHRC, they offer highly skilled surgeons and nephrologists and facilities like a dedicated ICU for transplant. They also follow patient centric approch. For the citizens of Saudi Arabia, KFSHRC provides services and treatments for free. But for international patients, the treatment costs start from SAR 30,000 or ($8,000).
King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh & Jeddah
This is a premier tertiary care facility. It works under the Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs. The hospital is specialised in oncology, transplants and pediatric care. This hospital also has accreditation from JCI. It is well known for its advanced transplant programs and highly skilled teams. They have a multidisciplinary transplant team and have a high success rate in both living and deceased donors. They have an excellent post-op or port transplant care. The cost for a kidney transplant is around SAR 350,000 ($93,000) approx.
Saudi Gemen Hospital, Riyadh & Jeddah
This is a very common choice for a kidney transplant amongst international patients because of its high international standards and qualified doctors. They offer high-quality transplant and nephrology services. The hospital provide pre transplant evalutaions and post-transplant care, and they also perform living donor kidney transplants. All these programs are led by experienced nephrologist Dr Anana Layka and consultant urologist Dr Abdulmajeed Abdullah Al Ghamdi. The cost of a kidney transplant here ranges between SAR 280,000-400,000 ($74,500-$106,000) approx.
Dr. Soliman Fakeeh Hospital, Jeddah
This is a private hospital that offers their servies in complex surgeries, neurology, oncology, and many more. They also provide home and virtual healthcare services and personalised patient care. Here, the waiting time is relatively shorter than in other hospitals. The hospital provides the full treatment form from pre-transplant evaluation to post-transplant care. In our case, the total cost of treatment varies from SAR 300,000 to 450,000 (about $80,000 to $120,000). These specialists have extensive expertise; one of them is Dr Radwan Daghmush, a Renal Transplant Consultant and the other one is Dr Yusif Fouda, a Transplant Specialist.
King Fahad Specialist Hospital, Dammam
It is one of the leading institutions. They have one of the major organ transplantation centres of their own. The hospital has performed over 1,500 including both local and international patients. This is one of the first hospitals in their region to perform the Paired Kidney Exchange program successfully. This allows the incompatible donor-recipient pairs to swap organs with other pairs. Here, the transplant program is not led by a single doctor. The department of nephrology and transplant surgery teams are the ones who manage and operate the program. The cost of a kidney transplant surgery ranges between SAR 250,000-350,000 ($66,500-$93,000) approx.
Why Choose Saudi Arabia for Kidney Transplant?
In recent years Saudi Arabia has become a preferred destination for kidney transplants for both local and international patients. Some of the reasons are:
- Kidney transplant hospitals in Saudi Arabia have advanced healthcare infrastructure. They have modern surgical technologies and robotic systems.
- Doctors operating for kidney transplant surgeries are often practised or trained in the USA, UK or other European countries.
- The success rate for kidney transplant surgery in Saudi Arabia reports competitive in comparison to other top destinations.
- In Saudi Arabia, the hospitals provide extra comprehensive care, like pre-transplant evaluation, post transplant monitoring, and long term follow up.
- The cost for the kidney transplant surgery is less in comparison to Western countries while providing world-class facilities.
- The hospitals assist in medical tourism. They offer services like visa assistance, travel and language.
Conclusion
A successful kidney transplant surgery can give a whole new life. For a successful surgery, finding a good hospital with advanced infrastructure, skilled professionals and top class patient care is important. The kidney transplant hospitals in Saudi Arabia provide all these facilities for both local and international patients. This makes Saudi Arabia a viable choice for having kidney transplant surgery. The cost here for the surgery is also lower in comparison to Western countries, while providing all the facilities.
Note: This blog is for informational purposes only. Costs vary significantly depending on hospital type, patient eligibility, and whether treatment is subsidized.
