Bangladesh Medical University (BMU) has completed Bangladesh’s first kidney transplant involving an “emotional donor,” or an emotionally connected voluntary donor, Vice-Chancellor Professor FM Siddiqui said on Saturday.
He made the disclosure at a press conference at BMU on Saturday morning, where a program was also held to hand over the discharge certificate to the transplant recipient.
“BMU has successfully completed the first kidney transplant in Bangladesh through an emotional donor. This has created a new opportunity for kidney transplantation,” Siddiqui said.
He said that, besides close relatives, an emotionally connected person may voluntarily donate a kidney after completing the legal process and meeting the prescribed conditions.
Relevant authorities and agencies are working to screen emotional donors, he said, adding that transplantation is carried out only after the legal aspects of a potential donor are verified.
A specialist hospital team also evaluates potential donors through medical examinations and other assessments, he said.
The relationship between the patient and donor, the donor’s voluntary consent and whether the process has been conducted properly are also verified, Siddiqui said.
He stressed that there is no scope for any financial transaction in kidney donation.
“There is no opportunity to donate or receive a kidney in exchange for money. Kidney donation must be completely voluntary and must comply with existing laws and prescribed conditions,” he said.
Siddiqui said liver transplant activities were already continuing at BMU and that the university was gradually developing greater capacity in organ transplantation.
Responding to questions from journalists, Professor Md Rafiqul Islam, a member of the transplant team and a professor of the Department of Urology, said the country’s first kidney transplant involving an emotional donor would remain a milestone for Bangladesh’s healthcare system.
He said the procedure had opened up a new possibility in kidney transplantation and could reduce the need for patients to travel abroad for complex treatment.
“This could reduce patients’ suffering and the cost of treatment,” he said.
Rafiqul said the success was not only a successful treatment for one patient but also demonstrated Bangladesh’s capacity and prospects in organ transplantation.
According to BMU sources, a patient from Bagerhat suffering from long-term kidney complications was admitted to BMU on August 10.
After the necessary examinations, screening and legal procedures were completed, the patient underwent a kidney transplant on August 31.
An emotionally connected voluntary donor from Gaibandha donated a kidney to the patient.
Following surgery and subsequent treatment, the patient was discharged from the hospital on Saturday.
At the discharge program, the patient shared their treatment experience and expressed gratitude to the doctors involved. The patient’s relatives also thanked the medical team.
Also present at the program were BMU Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Professor Md Nazrul Islam, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research and Development) Professor Md Mujibur Rahman Howlader, Chairman of the Department of Urology Professor Md Saiful Islam, Chairman of the Department of Nephrology Professor A H Hamid Ahmed, recipient team surgeon Professor AKM Khursidul Alam, donor team surgeon Professor Mohammad Shafiqur Rahman, Personal Secretary-1 to the Vice-Chancellor Professor Md Jahangir Hossain, and members of the transplant team, doctors and relevant officials.
