Tree Top Hospital has requested permission from the Ministry of Health to launch kidney transplant services.
The Chief Executive Officer of Tree Top Hospital Adil Moosa said that the institution intends to introduce previously unavailable medical services in the Maldives. He further mentioned that they have already requested permission for kidney transplant services from the Ministry of Health and will initiate operations once approval is granted to Tree Top Hospital.
Adil further said that the introduction of kidney transplant services is in line with the hospital's development objectives. He further said that Tree Top Hospital already possesses the required setup to initiate the service.
Adil said that most of the cases that go abroad are for services that the hospital is capable of providing.
"We have the facility for kidney transplants. We just need to import a few more equipment, and if the government prioritizes this, we are ready to initiate the service," Adil said. He also said that the kidney transplant procedures would be supervised by a senior doctor from Europe.
While Tree Top Hospital has requested permission to conduct kidney transplants, the Maldives currently lacks specific laws or regulations related to this medical practice. Organ transplantation in other regional countries is carried out in compliance with relevant laws and regulations.
In addition, Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) has been planning to establish its own kidney transplant services. In order to commence the practice, a bill has been drafted and submitted to the Attorney General's Office. However, the progress of the bill has faced delays due to various reasons.
In the Maldives, there are already several reported cases of chronic kidney disease, and patients with kidney failure still need to travel abroad for surgery, with most patients opting to go to India or Sri Lanka for the operation. While the government's health insurance plan, Aasandha, covers kidney transplantations, patients face substantial expenses due to the extended duration of their stay abroad.
In addition to kidney transplant services, Tree Top Hospital is also preparing to inaugurate its IVF center on Monday, May 29.