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HMC Achieves Over 400 Kidney Transplants Since 1986, 145 Patients Await Procedures

Doha: Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) announced that it has successfully performed over 400 kidney transplants since the inception of its kidney transplant program in Qatar in 1986. Currently, 145 patients are on the waiting list, organized by blood types, while 1,022 transplant recipients visit 14 dedicated follow-up clinics regularly.

According to Qatar News Agency, Senior Nephrology and Kidney Transplantation Consultant at HMC, Dr. Mohamad Alkadi, discussed the evolution of the kidney transplant program in an interview. He highlighted that the number of annual transplants initially did not exceed 20. However, from 2016, with the expansion of medical staff and advancements in equipment and medication, the transplant numbers increased to 30-40 per year and reached 50-60 in recent years.

Dr. Alkadi explained that kidney donations initially involved living donors. Since 1999, HMC has also performed transplants from deceased donors. The operations maintain a success rate exceeding 98%, in line with international standards, ensuring the transplanted kidney functions properly for at least one year.

He also detailed the new transplant programs HMC has initiated, including transplants from incompatible blood types, with six successful procedures since 2019. This process requires a month-long preparation to purify the patient’s blood of antibodies, reducing rejection risks.

In 2023, HMC launched a program aimed at reducing antibodies against donor tissues before transplants, achieving four successful surgeries. These procedures are complex and involve significant risk, underscoring the progress and development in Qatar’s kidney transplant program.

Regarding robotic surgeries for kidney transplants, introduced in 2024, Dr. Alkadi mentioned they cater to patients with obesity. These advancements reflect the program’s progress, expanding patient opportunities and increasing successful transplant surgeries.

In the QNA interview, Dr. Alkadi noted that kidney donation rates in Qatar are equal between living and deceased donors. He explained surgery procedures, emphasizing the care and monitoring process post-surgery and during the first year.

Dr. Alkadi also highlighted HMC’s efforts to ensure donor safety, including precision medicine programs and genetic analyses to prevent donor kidney failure post-donation.

HMC reiterated its commitment to promoting kidney health, aligning with World Kidney Day on March 13, through advanced treatments, scientific research, and patient-centered care. The institution’s investment in infrastructure, technology, and staff training, including the Kidney Transplant Precision Medicine Program, demonstrates its dedication to providing world-class healthcare.

Addressing pediatric donations, Dr. Alkadi clarified that HMC does not accept kidney donations from minors under 18, though organs can be donated posthumously with parental consent.

He also mentioned the presence of eight dialysis centers in Qatar, with five standalone and three attached to hospitals in Al Wakra, Al Khor, and Hazm Mebaireek, alongside 14 clinics for transplant patient follow-up.

Dr. Alkadi praised the rising awareness of organ donation in Qatar, noting over 500,000 deceased donors registered with HMC’s HIBA program. Family donations have also increased over the last decade among Qataris and residents.

Dr. Alkadi expressed optimism for the future, with plans to increase operations and achieve self-sufficiency, ensuring transplants for all on waiting lists, supported by the confidence and satisfaction of patients and their families in HMC’s services.