Kenyan policy on organ donation, transfusion, and transplantation: implications for africa and the greater transplant community

Abstract

Solid organ transplantation is the safest and most eco- nomical therapy for patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). 1,2 Despite its proven efficacy and cost- effectiveness, low- and middle-income countries are bat- tling with healthcare inequities in transplantation. The shortage of donors is particularly pronounced in Kenya, with an emerging infrastructure for transplan- tation.3 The affordability of the transplant and the cost of posttransplant medications is the immediate problem. When compared with the cost of dialysis, transplanta- tion is less expensive, providing a better quality of life and returning patients to the workforce, which generates national and regional taxes.4 Kenya began living donor kidney transplantations in 1978 (A. Twahir and H. Bagha, personal communica- tion, 2022, “The State of Kidney Transplant in Kenya”). The development of a national transplantation program has been delayed with the absence of an infrastructure, adequate funding, inadequate public education and awareness, and lack of well-trained professional person- nel. There is currently no deceased donor renal transplan- tation program. Here, we review barriers to solid organ transplantation in Kenya and introduce possible solutions based on the new Kenyan policy decisions.