The Saudi Center for Organ Transplantation (SCOT) has introduced a groundbreaking national kidney exchange program. This initiative enables kidney transplants between families when a living donor’s kidney does not match the recipient.
Successful First Kidney Exchanges
The program has successfully conducted its first kidney exchanges involving two patient-donor pairs. The transplants occurred at King Fahd Specialist Hospital in Dammam and King Abdulaziz Medical City in Riyadh, under SCOT’s supervision.
Program Objectives and Benefits
The main goals are to increase living donors and address issues with blood and tissue compatibility. The program aims to provide more opportunities for patients on kidney transplant waiting lists, aligning with Saudi Vision 2030’s healthcare transformation goals.
Expansion Plans and Call for Participation
In its first phase, the program includes transplant centers at King Abdulaziz Medical City and King Fahd Specialist Hospital. Plans are underway to expand to other centers across the Kingdom.
SCOT invites all kidney transplant programs in the Kingdom to join the second phase of the national exchange program. The target is to raise the percentage of living donors from 10% to 30%.
This initiative is part of SCOT’s strategic plan to enhance organ donation efforts and improve healthcare access. By maximizing the benefits of each donation, the program aims to significantly impact the lives of patients and their families.
In January, SCOT introduced the Athar electronic platform, a centralized database managing organ donation and transplantation nationwide.
