Mauritius Aspires to Become an Organ Transplantation Leading Facility

Mauritius is striving to become a centre of excellence in organ transplantation, with plans underway to establish a Transplantation Unit at the Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital. According to Bose Soonarane, spokesperson for the Renal Disease Patient’s Association, however, the country has fallen behind in this field.

Minister Jagutpal has announced that Mauritius may begin conducting cadaveric organ harvesting for transplants within two years.

Minister of Health Kailesh Jagutpal is hoping to count on Dr. Rajinder Pal Singh to oversee local surgeons in their transplantation endeavors.

In the 1980s, a team of Mauritian surgeons, nephrologists, and doctors had performed renal transplants, but the country has since relied on foreign surgeons to perform complex cases.

Mauritius has a significant number of patients requiring dialysis, with over 1,500 people under treatment.

This is representing a large number of potential transplant recipients, according to Dr. Dilshaad Joomun, a consultant general surgeon at Victoria Hospital.

The team that performed the three renal transplants under the guidance of Dr. Singh worked tirelessly to complete the procedures.

While two of the operations were relatively straightforward, the third required exceptional skill and expertise.

The Mauritian team is hoping to build on this experience by working with Dr. Singh for an extended period to perform regular transplantations, aiming for eight per month.

However, Bose Soonarane saw a limitation in relying solely on foreign expertise, emphasizing the need for local surgeons to undergo specialized training and obtain recognized qualifications.

According to Bose Soonarane, it is crucial that local surgeons follow courses at specialized centers and obtain recognized qualifications from an accredited institution to inspire confidence and ensure they are adequately trained.

The minister has confirmed that preparations are underway for the Transplantation Unit, with over 50% of construction completed so far.

By two years from now, a qualified team and equipment will be in place, along with necessary protocols for renal and hepatic transplants.

With the new organ harvesting law in place, cadaveric organ transplantation will also be possible. However, regulations need to be refined before implementation.

Source: Defi Media