The Cost of Kidney Transplantation in Iran

doi:10.1016/j.transproceed.2007.03.056

Transplantation Proceedings

Volume 39, Issue 4, May 2007, Pages 927-929

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.transproceed.2007.03.056 Get rights and content

Abstract

Background

Kidney transplantation has gained widespread popularity by improving the outcome of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients. However, this is a highly complicated and expensive procedure that puts much pressure on the health system in developing countries. We report the costs in Iran model of kidney transplantation.

Materials and Methods

We reviewed the regulations for kidney transplantation using Dialysis and Transplant Patients Association (DATPA) information, 2005. All data regarding the cost of transplantation procedure, immunosuppression, and the money given to donors were included. The cost of transplantation procedure was categorized into personnel, drugs, paraclinics, hospital bed, and other expenses. To achieve more comprehensive results, all costs were converted into US dollars (1 USD = 9000 Rials).

Results

The total cost of kidney transplantation procedure was $9224. Of this, 65.8% ($6076) was related to the immunosuppression therapy in the first year, 22.2% ($2048) to the transplantation procedure, and 12% ($1100) to organ procurement. The details of donor nephrectomy were as follows: personnel, $183; accommodations, $107; drugs, $39; paraclinics, $23; and other, $22. These values for kidney recipient were personnel, $331; drugs, $367; paraclinics, $278; accommodations, $475; and other, $222.

Conclusion

Compared with other countries, the kidney transplantation cost is low in Iran. The health system also pays for all the expenses. These, along with full medical insurance coverage of kidney recipients, make kidney transplantation available for every patient, regardless of the socioeconomic status due to its low cost. It is expected that a higher number of transplantation candidates with a low socioeconomic status will select transplantation.

Section snippets

Materials and Methods

Because living donors are main source of organ for kidney transplantations in (99.2% compared with 0.8% for cadavers),³ we report here the costs of kidney transplantation from living donors. In the Iranian model, all hospital expenses for a kidney transplantation procedure are paid by the government. There is no private practice for kidney transplantation in Iran and all transplantation teams belong to university hospitals.

We gathered data regarding the costs of kidney transplantation from

Results

The total cost of kidney transplantation was $9224 65.8% ($6076) of which was related to the immunosuppression therapy in the first year, 22.2% ($2048) to the transplant procedure, and 12% ($1100) to payments to donors (Fig 1).

The details of total cost of transplantation procedure are as follows: accommodation, $582 (28%); personnel, $514 (25%); drugs, $406 (20%); paraclinics, $301 (15%); and other, $245 (12%). The costs of kidney transplantation procedure in recipients includes accommodations

Discussion

The total cost of kidney transplantation procedure in our study was $9235. The reports on the total costs of kidney transplantation from other countries are very diverse and vary greatly from one center to another. It is reported to be from $65,569 in Germany,⁵ $65,000 in China,⁶ $44,201 to $64,000 in the United States,1, 7 and $40,000 in Mexico⁸ to $8000 in India.² As the data show, the cost of kidney transplantation in Iran is very low and is comparable to the countries with very low cost of

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: Supported and funded by Baqiyatallah Medical Sciences University.

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Renal transplantationOutcomeThe Cost of Kidney Transplantation in Iran

Abstract

Background

Materials and Methods

Results

Conclusion

Section snippets

Materials and Methods

Results

Discussion

Am J Transplant

Transplant Proc

Transplant Proc

Am J Transplant

Human organs, scarcities, and sale: morality revisited

J Med Ethics

Renal transplantation in Iran

Nephrol Dial Transplant

Renal transplantation
Outcome
The Cost of Kidney Transplantation in Iran