Kathmandu, August 22

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli yesterday left for Singapore 10 days after returning from there for his medical check-up, raising speculation among the general public about his health.

However, the PM’s personal physician, Dr Dilip Sharma, held a press meet today to allay fears about Oli’s health. He said there was nothing to worry regarding the PM’s health. “Doctors involved in his treatment are focusing on decreasing the number of antibodies in the PM’s blood. The number normally goes up after kidney transplant. Doctors will also take measures to increase the functioning of kidney and decrease creatinine level, which has been slightly higher than among normal persons,” he said, adding, “Apart from these simple complications, our PM is perfectly healthy.”

Creatinine is a waste product produced by muscles that is released via urine in healthy persons. But, the level of creatinine gets higher in blood after patients undergo kidney transplant.

Around 12 years ago Oli had got his kidneys transplanted in New Delhi. On August 3, he went to Singapore-based National University Hospital for kidney check-up and returned on August 12. It is the first time since then that the authorities have officially shared information about the PM’s health.

Dr Sharma said creatinine level in the PM’s blood was slightly higher than 2.0 milligrams per decilitre. It should normally range from 1.4 to 1.5 mg/dL. Creatinine level shows how healthy one’s kidneys are.

Dr Rishi Kumar Kafle, a kidney expert and chief nephrologist at National Kidney Centre, said creatinine level above 2.0 mg/dL in someone who had undergone kidney transplant could be harmful. “It means that only 30 per cent of his kidneys are functioning well,” he added. He added that creatinine could be regained by transfusing plasma in the blood through a process called plasmapheresis.

Before the PM left for Singapore, Dr Divya Singh, who is travelling with the PM, said doctors in Singapore would try to improve the functioning of his kidneys.