Coordinating Minister For Human Development And Culture: Kidney Transplant Reduces Government's Financial Burden Instead Of Dialysis

Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Muhadjir Effendi while giving a statement to reporters in Jakarta, Wednesday, July 7. (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture (Menko PMK) Muhadjir Effendy said kidney transplantation, as the treatment of choice for patients with end-stage disease, could reduce the government's financial burden.

"It is calculated that the burden that must be paid by the government is also lighter by carrying out a transplant than having to do dialysis," he said, during an online audience with kidney failure patients during the COVID-19 pandemic which was monitored from Jakarta, Wednesday.

According to Muhadjir, kidney failure is one of the four biggest diseases that consumes 12 percent of the catastrophic funds by the Health Social Security Administration (BPJS) after cancer, heart disease, and stroke.

Data shows that 10 percent of the world's population is affected by chronic kidney disease (CKD) or that occurs due to early kidney failure symptoms that are not treated immediately and gradually worsen, said Muhadjir.

Basic Health Research (Riskesda) In 2018, the prevalence of CKD has doubled to 0.38 percent from 0.2 percent in 2013.

"I've talked to the doctor at the RSCM, he also agreed why not just encourage him to do a transplant. Now there are a lot of experts in hospitals in the regions as well as in central hospitals under the authority of the Ministry of Health," he said.

Muhadjir also urged to immediately form a National Transplantation Council (DTN). This board will later provide ethical foundations, ethics, related to donors, the relationship between donors and those who will be transplanted, including their handling.

"Therefore I also ask to participate in encouraging the competent government to form this National Transplantation Council," he said.