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In the case of terminal kidney disease, a person might need a kidney transplant. In this case, the organ does not cope with its functions, namely the removal of water and the metabolic byproducts from the body. Also, the kidneys perform an endocrine function, producing hormones such as erythropoietin. Thus, kidney dysfunction often requires dialysis or organ transplantation.
In third-world countries, transplantation is not very common due to a lack of necessary equipment and insufficient experience of doctors. Therefore, patients go abroad for surgery. In this article, Mediglobus will tell you about the cost of kidney transplantation and where it is the cheapest.
India – good medical services for a low cost
IMJT ranked India in the top 5 prospective countries for medical tourism. Patients from the USA, Europe, Asia and other parts of the world come there. People travel to get quality treatment for lower prices. Kidney transplantation in India costs $10,000-15,000 cheaper than in the west, even including the cost of the visa, flight and accommodation. One of the most popular transplantology centres is Fortis Network.
The network consists of 54 medical centres, including the Fortis Gurgaon Research Institute. The centre is ranked second out of thirty high-tech hospitals in the world. It ranked higher than the Johns Hopkins American Medical Center. The network of Fortis clinics has the international JCI accreditation and the NABH quality mark. One of the most outstanding achievements of Fortis is laparoscopic transplantation of heart and kidney. The operation lasted only 2.5 hours and didn’t need a blood transfusion.
In India, organ transplantation to an overseas patient is possible only if there is a related donor (up to 4th degree).
The reason why the cost of a kidney transplant is so low is the country’s economy. The wages in India are not that high, but a good doctor gets a decent salary by the standards of the country. That is why many people want to become doctors and try to be among the best. Besides, India has many medical centres and a large flow of patients, which helps maintain prices 40-60% lower than in America or Europe.
Turkey – unique experience and qualified specialists
Turkish doctors have been performing kidney transplantations since 1975. Patients choose this country for a relatively low surgery cost – 30-40% lower than in similar clinics in Germany and Spain. For example, in Turkish clinic Liv Istinye the cost of kidney transplantation starts from $17,000. For comparison, in the Quiron Barcelona clinic in Spain kidney transplantation costs from €60,000.
Turkish doctors perform transplantation from a related donor to the 4th degree. The wife and husband, who have an official confirmation of marriage, are also considered relatives.
The level of qualification of Turkish transplantologists is demonstrated by the unique cross-kidney transplantation operation performed in Istanbul in 2018. The famous doctor Murat Tuncer guided the process. There were 22 surgeons and 14 patients involved in the operation. The team of doctors operated on patients in 7 operating theatres at the same time, performing organ transplantation by the “domino” principle.
Another kidney transplant specialist works at the Medical Park Antalya – Professor Demirbash. The doctor has more than 5,000 successful kidney transplantation operations on his account. Professor Demirbash has been practising in Turkish and European hospitals for over 30 years and has published 22 scientific papers during his career.
South Korea – affordable price and patient-oriented approach
Kidney transplantation in South Korea for foreign patients is only possible if you come to the country with your donor. Also, the donor must be a blood relative, with documentary proof.
South Korea is in third place among the countries with the lowest cost of kidney transplantation. The price of the procedure is about $40,000, which is 20% lower than European prices.
Kidney transplantation procedure is most common in South Korea. The doctors there have extensive experience in such surgical procedures.
Dr Sung-gyu Lee, who is one of the leaders in organ transplantation, practices at Asan Clinic. The clinic ranked 37th among the world’s best medical centres by the Newsweek magazine. Kidney transplantation is also performed at Soon Chun Hyang University Hospital.
The survival rate of patients who underwent transplant procedures in Korea is higher than in many clinics in America and Europe. The five-year survival rate after kidney transplantation from a live donor is 92%.
Also, kidney transplantation is possible in medical centres in Spain, Germany, Austria and Israel. But the cost of such surgery in the clinics of these countries will be 40-50% higher.
Resume
The cost of a kidney transplant abroad depends on criteria such as country, patient’s general condition, type of operation, level of clinic and doctor’s qualification.
The most affordable kidney transplants are in India and Turkey, and the most expensive clinics are in Spain and Israel.
Transplantation from a related donor to the 4th degree is possible abroad. Transplantation in EU clinics is performed only from a relative of the 1st degree. This is due to legal issues.
The cost of kidney transplantation abroad starts from $13,000-14,000 and can reach $100,000-120,000.
Price of Kidney Transplantation Abroad
| Country | Cost |
|---|---|
| India | from $13-14,000 |
| Turkey | from $17,000 |
| South Korea | from $40,000 |
| Spain | from €60,000 |
You can get free help in selecting a clinic for kidney transplantation by leaving an application on the website. To do this, click “Get a free consultation” and fill in the application fields. After that, a MedicGlobus specialist will contact you and help you organize your medical trip!
