Kathmandu, November 2

Human Organ Transplant Centre, Bhaktapur, has seen a rise in the number of foreign patients visiting the centre for kidney transplantation services.

According to the hospital, eight Indian nationals, including five male and three female, have already undergone kidney transplant at the centre. “Patients from SAARC other countries have also been inquiring about transplant services at the centre,” informed Dr Kalpana Shrestha, head of nephrology department.“They are interested in visiting the centre for kidney transplant as they don’t have to wait long and the cost is also affordable,” she added.

“We have been performing kidney transplants on Indian patients only after they bring relationship certificate and a no objection letter from the Indian Embassy,” Dr Shrestha added.  The charge for kidney transplant is the same for all patients.

However, the centre has proposed to increase the charges for foreign patients, according to Dr Shrestha. The centre performed 153 kidney transplants in the fiscal 2016-17. It aims to perform more than 200 kidney transplants this fiscal.