The Ministry of Health & Wellness forging ahead with its plan to launch a comprehensive kidney transplant program in the country. Minister of Health & Wellness the Honourable Dr. Michael Darvillealong with Permanent Secretary Collin Higgs and other health officials recently met with Bahamianphysicians, Dr. Rhea Thurston-Carroll and Dr. Vantario Taylor along with members of theinternational non-profit organization Transplant Links Community (TLC) including CEO AimeeJewitt-Harris to discuss the implementation of a living donor kidney transplant programme in TheBahamas. The need for public education about kidney transplants and the establishment of an endstage renal failure registry in The Bahamas were also discussed.
In September, Cabinet gave approval for the Ministry to commence a hospital facility assessmentfrom its budget. The assessment by the TLC team reported satisfaction that with some instrumentupgrades and additional needs assessments, a kidney transplant programme can be successful inThe Bahamas.
Kidney failure and dialysis continues to put a heavy burden on the public health budget. Whiledialysis remains a viable option for kidney failure treatment, this living donor programme would givepatients an improved quality of life and a cost burden relief to the healthcare system. The aim is tohave performed 10 transplants by the end of 2023 with legislative amendments to the DrugPrescription Act to make the anti-rejection medication readily available at no cost to the patients.
TLC is a registered charity in the United Kingdom that provides hands-on training and mentoring inkidney transplantation for healthcare professionals in low and middle income countries assisting inthe development of sustainable, ethical living-donor transplant units so that more patients haveaccess to this life saving treatment. TLC has over fifty (50) volunteer clinicians who work alongsidelocal surgeons, doctors, nurses, nephrologists, operating theatre technicians and social workers todeliver lifesaving living kidney transplants while transferring knowledge and skills.
The kidney transplant program once given the green light will be facilitated through the PrincessMargaret Hospital in New Providence.
The Ministry of Health & Wellness forging ahead with its plan to launch a comprehensive kidney
transplant program in the country. Minister of Health & Wellness the Honourable Dr. Michael Darville
along with Permanent Secretary Collin Higgs and other health officials recently met with Bahamian
physicians, Dr. Rhea Thurston-Carroll and Dr. Vantario Taylor along with members of the
international non-profit organization Transplant Links Community (TLC) including CEO Aimee
Jewitt-Harris to discuss the implementation of a living donor kidney transplant programme in The
Bahamas. The need for public education about kidney transplants and the establishment of an end
stage renal failure registry in The Bahamas were also discussed.
In September, Cabinet gave approval for the Ministry to commence a hospital facility assessment
from its budget. The assessment by the TLC team reported satisfaction that with some instrument
upgrades and additional needs assessments, a kidney transplant programme can be successful in
The Bahamas.
Kidney failure and dialysis continues to put a heavy burden on the public health budget. While
dialysis remains a viable option for kidney failure treatment, this living donor programme would give
patients an improved quality of life and a cost burden relief to the healthcare system. The aim is to
have performed 10 transplants by the end of 2023 with legislative amendments to the Drug
Prescription Act to make the anti-rejection medication readily available at no cost to the patients.
TLC is a registered charity in the United Kingdom that provides hands-on training and mentoring in
kidney transplantation for healthcare professionals in low and middle income countries assisting in
the development of sustainable, ethical living-donor transplant units so that more patients have
access to this life saving treatment. TLC has over fifty (50) volunteer clinicians who work alongside
local surgeons, doctors, nurses, nephrologists, operating theatre technicians and social workers to
deliver lifesaving living kidney transplants while transferring knowledge and skills.
The kidney transplant program once given the green light will be facilitated through the Princess
Margaret Hospital in New Providence.
