First Sehat Card Kidney Transplant Performed at Khyber Teaching Hospital
First Sehat Card Kidney Transplant Performed at Khyber Teaching Hospital
Khyber Teaching Hospital in Peshawar has performed its first Sehat Card kidney transplant, a milestone for public-sector healthcare in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The transplant was carried out by transplant surgeon Dr Shahid Khan and his team. A 51-year-old man, Hazrat Ali of Charsadda district, donated his kidney to his 40-year-old brother, Muhammad Ilyas.
The entire procedure was provided free of cost under the Sehat Card programme. The patient will also receive essential post-transplant medicines free of charge for one year, sparing the family a bill that would have run to about Rs2 million in a private hospital.
What the Sehat Card kidney transplant covered
Under the programme, the hospital bore the full cost of the surgery, the donor and recipient care, and the year of post-transplant medication that follows. Hospital officials said the family faced no financial burden at any stage of the treatment.
The Sehat Card programme gives enrolled families cashless treatment at empanelled public and private hospitals across the province, and transplants are among the most expensive procedures it covers.
Why it matters for patients in KP
Until now, patients from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa who needed organ transplants often had to travel to other cities, adding travel and lodging costs to an already heavy medical bill. Performing such procedures at the province’s own teaching hospitals brings that care closer to home.
The hospital is also setting up a dedicated transplant institute for kidney, liver and bone marrow transplants, with Rs500 million already allocated for the project, according to earlier reports. Once operational, the institute is expected to carry out dozens of free transplants every month.
Who received KTH’s first Sehat Card kidney transplant?
Muhammad Ilyas, 40, of Charsadda district received the kidney donated by his 51-year-old brother, Hazrat Ali. The surgery was performed by Dr Shahid Khan and his team at Khyber Teaching Hospital, Peshawar.
How much does a kidney transplant cost in Pakistan?
In a private hospital, a kidney transplant can cost about Rs2 million, not counting post-transplant medication. Under the Sehat Card programme at KTH, the procedure and one year of medicines were completely free for the patient’s family.
What is the Sehat Card programme?
The Sehat Card programme provides cashless medical treatment to enrolled families at empanelled hospitals in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, covering major procedures including transplants that would otherwise be out of reach for most households.
