Friday, May 30, 2025
By JADE RUSSELL
Tribune Staff Reporter
jrussell@tribunemedia.net
THE country’s first live organ transplant surgery under the National Organ Transplant Programme is expected to take place at Princess Margaret Hospital before the end of the year, according to sources familiar with the matter.
While officials have not confirmed a launch date, insiders told The Tribune that preparations are nearing completion. A live transplant involves the donation of an organ from a living donor to a recipient.
The government has allocated $1.59m to the programme in its 2025/2026 budget, with projections increasing to $3m in 2026/2027 and $4.5m the following year.
Health and Wellness Minister Dr Michael Darville previously said the Bahamas National Organ Transplant Programme would launch in 2024. He told Parliament during the June 2023 budget debate that the first procedures would involve live kidney donations to improve the lives of patients undergoing haemodialysis.
More than 600 people currently rely on the country’s public dialysis services, a costly endeavour the government hopes to ease through this initiative.
The Bahamas currently partners with the University of Miami for organ harvesting. However, the new programme will enable the country to carry out its own transplants, marking a major step forward in local healthcare capabilities.
Dr Darville also said in February that participants in the transplant programme would be required to undergo psychological evaluation and counselling. Some nurses have already been trained for the procedures, and draft legislation has been completed.
“When you transplant organs, you need to make sure that everything is above board,” he said. “There’s no selling of organs. You need to make sure that we have watchful eyes; people are not being coerced to give organs.”
He continued: “Let’s say you had kidney failure, and your mother needs an organ; sometimes, the pressure in the house almost makes it seem as if you have to do it. When you start psychological consultation, some of the people who are donating say they feel pressured.”
Due to space limitations, the initial procedures will take place at a temporary site near Princess Margaret Hospital. However, the programme is eventually expected to move to a new hospital facility in New Providence.
Comments
rodentos says...
I hope this will be a brain transplant for someone from the government...
Posted 30 May 2025, 1:03 p.m. Suggest removal
whatsup says...
All of them need a brain transplant. We will then become a country of selling body parts for transplants like they do in other countries.
Posted 30 May 2025, 2:20 p.m. Suggest removal
realfreethinker says...
For most of them in the gov
Posted 30 May 2025, 3:40 p.m. Suggest removal
TalRussell says...
Comrades, for once, you're stepping away from attaching political narratives' -- works to better help those **600++** of we own popoulaces' --- who's currently relying and the many who will become dependent upon costly dialysis services. -- Yes?
Posted 30 May 2025, 5:01 p.m. Suggest removal
TalRussell says...
Bahamians traveling to the US, where the annual cost of dialysis for a patient can vary significantly depending on if insured and the type of insurance they have and the specific treatment they receive. On average dialysis is around USD90,000 to USD100,000 per patient per year. Private insurance payers often spend more, with estimates ranging from USD10,000 to USD15,000 per month. -- And those estimates do not cover travel, doctor office visits, prescriptions', lab tests, accommodation, out pocket expenses, insurance copayment, etc. etc.-- And, despite the costs, there's always a 'Waiting List.' -- 6 months to a year. But how long you can wait depends on several things, including your age and overall health aside from your kidneys. -- Yes?
Posted 30 May 2025, 5:54 p.m. Suggest removal
bogart says...
Hurrah! And kudos to these superlative advances that is taking place in Bahamian medical care.
Also what is needed is the health insurance coverages long overdue to be provided by the govt. for the Medical staff employed, instead of ill staff having to take large sums out of their small paycheck or borrow money to seek medical care from professionals.
It is a huge advancing step in medical staff to be doing such high standards of medical advances in treating their patients. Kudos to the Medical staff. !!!!!!
Posted 30 May 2025, 7:02 p.m. Suggest removal
sheeprunner12 says...
Say it ain't so 🧐🧐🧐
But what are MOH/PHA/PMH doing about A&E, or Blood Bank or ambulances or medicines etc
PLP like flashy headliners, but fail at the details that affect the ordinary citizens
Posted 30 May 2025, 7:36 p.m. Suggest removal
ohdrap4 says...
Didn't someone die from an ingrown toenail years ago?
Posted 30 May 2025, 8:48 p.m. Suggest removal
bogart says...
Years ago I believe that Bob Marley aged 36 years old, died from melanoma started under his his big toenail.
Posted 30 May 2025, 9:36 p.m. Suggest removal
hrysippus says...
Legislation could be passed that would mandate every insurance company to ask the insured operator of every vehicle if they would consent to be an organ donor in the event of being declared brain dead by a properly administered medical authority. As an incentive the government waives the 10% VAT payable on the premium. A note is made in the drivers license and the insurance papers which all drivers must carry with them, This would be particularly useful for the younger motor cycle riders who have good healthy organs but only suffer a little in the common-sense department of their brain. Remember that almost 100 people lose their lives each year in the Bahamas.
Posted 31 May 2025, 12:03 p.m. Suggest removal
TalRussell says...
@ComradeHrysippus, seriously, you're not proposing -- are you....trustin' we 'organs' with the 'road traffic peoples'. -- Yes?
Posted 31 May 2025, 12:37 p.m. Suggest removal
Log in to comment