The cost of kidney transplant in the country is Tk 300,000 while in India or China it rockets up to Tk 4 million. Doctors say that due to lack of publicity and awareness, people are going abroad and spending huge amount of money for kidney transplants.
As per the information of Bangladesh Renal Foundation, every year, globally 850 million people are affected by kidney diseases, of which, 2.4 million lose their lives. In the country, around thirty to forty thousand people die of kidney related afflictions.
In Bangladesh, the cost of kidney transplant is Tk 230,000 and so far, 540 patients faced kidney transplant.
However, many people do not know that the operation can be performed in Bangladesh. Doctors say that more publicity is needed.
Professor of Urology of BSMMU, Dr. Habibur Rahman, says: “Dialysis ensures just a few functions of the kidney; to ensure proper function, there is no alternative to transplant.”
We need some positive publicity so people know that facilities are available, he added.
“Most people who go abroad for transplant incur huge expenses but if they took the operation in the country, they could reduce the expenses considerably and also help the kidney transplant procedure get wider recognition.”
President of the Bangladesh Health Rights Movements, Dr. Rashid e Mahbub, said: “To carry out transplants, kidney availability is required.”
Saying that there has been change in the kidney transplant law, he added, “In the past, only first degree relatives could give kidneys and now the second degree relatives will also be able to donate kidneys.”
It needs to be monitored if the person coming to donate is doing so voluntarily or not, he observed.
“Also, the government has to oversee that illegal buying-selling of kidneys by depraved groups is contained.”