Dr. Butera made this statement on March 6, 2025, during a session with the Committee on Governance Affairs and Gender of the Chamber of Deputies.
He highlighted Rwanda's commitment to advancing its healthcare sector, ensuring that services previously sought abroad are now available locally.
'We are seeing positive outcomes from these services. So far, 44 kidney transplants have been performed in Rwanda since the program began, and all the patients are doing well,' he said.
Patients in need of a kidney transplant must have a donor, who can be a family member, a friend, or any willing individual who meets the medical requirements.
Before this service was introduced in Rwanda, the government had to send over 70 patients abroad for kidney transplants, costing more than Rwf 800 million.
Typically, undergoing a kidney transplant in India costs between $7,400 and $14,000, depending on factors such as the patient's age, blood type, and the hospital where the procedure is performed.
Medical experts point out that patients who undergo transplants abroad often face challenges, including difficulties in post-surgery follow-up care once they return home.
In May 2023, King Faisal Hospital in Kigali launched kidney transplant services, a highly specialized procedure that was previously only available abroad at a high cost.
Although official statistics on kidney disease prevalence in Rwanda are not available, studies indicate that up to 10% of the population may suffer from chronic kidney disease, while around 40% may have mild kidney issues that can be treated and fully cured.
Dr. Butera also reported significant progress in heart surgery, with more than 500 procedures successfully conducted since the program's launch.
'We have performed heart surgeries on 356 children and 186 adults here in Rwanda since we started this initiative,' he stated.
King Faisal Hospital also offers advanced procedures to correct congenital heart defects in children using catheterization technology, which eliminates the need for open-heart surgery.
Dr. Butera emphasized that the number of patients sent abroad for treatment has significantly decreased, thanks to the availability of specialized services within Rwanda.
To further enhance healthcare accessibility, the government has implemented cost reductions on various medical services. For instance, the cost of a full-body scan has been reduced by 65%.
These specialized medical services are now available at King Faisal Hospital, one of the region's leading healthcare institutions providing world-class medical care.
IGIHE
Source : https://en.igihe.com/health/article/44-kidney-transplants-successfully-performed-in-rwanda
