Work is continuing on a new kidney transplant center in Bahrain, which will improve the quality of life for kidney patients when it opens early next year, reported the Gulf Daily News on Wednesday.
The health ministry is hoping that the state-of-the-art Yousif Khalil Almoayyed Centre for Nephrology and Kidney Transplant will help increase the number of kidney transplants from 15 to 20 annually to 40, said the paper.
There will also be 29 dialysis machines in the center, which will allow up to 87 patients to undergo dialysis in three daily sessions.
Consultant nephrologist and the Kidney Patients Friendship Society's vice president, Ahmed Al Arrayed, said the additional staff and equipment would make life easier for a lot of people.
"There are about 200 people who are being treated for kidney problems by the Sulmaniya Medical Complex (SMC) and the BDF Hospital," he told the paper.
"Previously we only had 25 machines. These new machines will allow more flexibility and convenience for patients.
"In addition, we are planning to start a home dialysis program for those who can afford it.
"Once we have the manpower, we will be able to send staff to patients' homes so that they can be treated with their own dialysis machines. One patient is already receiving treatment in this way," explained Al Arrayed.
Cadaver donations, he said, will also be used.
"Cadaver donations have been legal since June 1998 but we were unable to use them because we didn't have the right facilities," he said.
"Now that we can use organs from brain-dead patients, we hope to perform up to 40 transplants a year," he added – Albawaba.com
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