Kidney transplantation in the Middle East

Abstract

Public education on the subject of brain death and cadaveric organs as a reliable source of saving lives and provision of better infrastructure could increase the rate of kidney transplantation from brain-dead donors. Lack of funds and a negative attitudes towards organ donation are the main barriers in the Middle East.

International Society of Nephrology Global Kidney Health Atlas: structures, organization, and services for the management of kidney failure in the Middle East

“…Despite this, there is evidence that health information systems for KF and transplantation are incomplete and lacking detail in most countries in the region. 7 Countries with low Human Development Index scores tend to have high disease burden, shortages of expert human resources, and underdeveloped health systems. Countries with Human Development Index scores at the middle and high end of the spectrum, on the other hand, have some health-related registry data, assess essential needs, and try to develop and improve the quality of care and reduce risk factors of disease, depending on their ability to access funds.…”

“…Countries with Human Development Index scores at the middle and high end of the spectrum, on the other hand, have some health-related registry data, assess essential needs, and try to develop and improve the quality of care and reduce risk factors of disease, depending on their ability to access funds. 7 However, we believe it is critically important to also establish databases of CKD patients in the region to enable better understanding of key patient characteristics, disease patterns, and resource needs to improve care of patients with kidney disease in the region. Studies from registry data from the region have shown comparable results of HD and transplant patients with data from other parts of the world.…”

“…6 Regional bodies, such as the Middle East Society for Organ Transplantation, have been formed as a platform for filling the gaps and improving education, training, research, and collaboration within the region. 7 Despite these, there still remains a significant gap of information on funding, availability, accessibility, health information systems, and national strategies for kidney care in the region. We leveraged on available data from the second iteration of the International Society of Nephrology (ISN) Global Kidney Health Atlas to report on various states of KF care in the Middle East region.…”