Nepal Celebrates World Kidney Day

Illegal organ trade is on the rise in the countryside

Bhuwan Thapaliya (Bhuwan)

March 10, 2006

Kidney diseases are rising in Nepal, and considering this grave fact, the Nepalese government is marking World Kidney Day for the first time on Thursday.

The International Federation of Kidney Foundations (IFKF), the International Society of Nephrology and the Committee for World Kidney Day (WKD) are joining hands with the government in raising awareness about kidney diseases.

According to government estimates, around 10,000 people are suffering from kidney failures in Nepal. The number is going up by 2,500 to 3,000 every year, and people have only two options -- either live with dialysis or undergo a transplant.

Both are very expensive and are beyond the reach of ordinary Nepalese. Only 5 percent can afford the dialysis treatment or undergo a transplant.

Anand Thapa, a 25-year-old, underwent a kidney transplant five years ago when he was diagnosed with kidney failure. His father donated a kidney to him, but now he is dependent on medication that costs approximately Rs4,000-5,000 (U.S.$56-$70) every month.

The transplant operation costs about $6000 and he had to depend on medicine worth around $180 per month after operations.

According to reports, many Nepalese who have undergone kidney transplants have died because they could not afford the costly medicines.

The National Kidney Centre (NKC) states that around 10 to 25 percent of diabetics develop kidney diseases. The U.S. Renal Data System indicated that diabetes and high blood pressure are the leading causes of kidney failure, accounting for 44 percent and 28 percent of all new cases, respectively.

According to the International Society of Nephrology, developed countries treat over one million individuals yearly for kidney diseases. Meanwhile, the Nepalese government has been sending health professionals to India and other countries for training so that the transplantation of kidneys can be done successfully here in Nepal.

Unfortunately, although there are legal provisions for kidney transplants in Nepal, there are no facilities to make such operations possible. Doctors have been demanding the government set up the necessary facilities for kidney transplants and at the same time they say it should also set up such facilities in the country to control the illegal trade in kidneys.

Responding to the general call, the government has formed an Organ Transplant Committee in order to check the smuggling of kidneys from the country, as trading in kidneys is illegal in Nepal.

Under the Organ Transplant Act of 1998 (OTA), kidney transplants should be undertaken voluntarily, and one must be related by blood to donate kidneys. But relationships are faked on paper. The law on organ transplants is not sufficient and conclusive. Therefore, the trade in human organs is increasing.

It is a medical fact that kidneys transplanted from non-blood relative's blood relatives could ultimately do more harm than good. Antibodies react against the foreign tissue leading to an eventual breakdown of the body's working system.

But according to some doctors, if certain medical criteria are matched and there is a matching blood group then an organ obtained from outside the family would also cause no harm.

Nonetheless, as there is no cure once the kidney fails, kidney failure should be prevented. "A thorough check-up once a year can save many from a lifetime of pain and financial burden," doctors are saying.

"The high death rate because of kidney failure can be curbed if the government introduces a special package where private and government hospitals can do screening and a thorough check up of patients," one doctor from the NKC said.

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This article posted March 26, 2006.