Jigmi Wangdi

Health Minister Lyonpo Tandin Wangchuk, at the 11th meet-the-press session, addressed concerns about kidney transplants and financial aid for patients seeking treatment abroad.

Explaining the government’s stance on ABO-incompatible kidney transplants, Lyonpo highlighted steps to improve the referral system to ease the burden on patients and their families.

Lyonpo said that ABO-incompatible kidney transplants, available in India since 2018, are not yet allowed under Bhutan’s current guidelines. However, he clarified that the draft revised referral guideline proposes to include such transplants.

“This revision was made to address the challenges faced by patients who are unable to find compatible donors,” Lyonpo said.

Once the guideline is finalised, it will be presented to the High-Level Committee of the health sector for recommendation and subsequently submitted to the government for approval.

Discussing the cost implications of the new provision, Lyonpo said that implementing ABO-incompatible transplants would incur an additional cost of approximately Nu 250,000 per patient compared to compatible transplants.

These costs arise primarily from the plasmapheresis and intravenous immunoglobulin treatments required for plasma desensitisation, a process that reduces antibody levels to prevent rejection of the donor kidney.

Despite the higher expense, Lyonpo emphasised that the measure aims to alleviate the suffering of patients and their families while reducing the long-term financial and emotional burdens they currently face. He added that expanding access to this advanced medical procedure aligns with the government’s commitment to equitable healthcare services.

Lyonpo also addressed the pressing issue of financial support for patients referred abroad for treatment. He explained that the Daily Subsistence Allowance (DSA) for patients and their escorts has been included in the draft revised referral guideline.

The proposed DSA rate is Nu 400 per person per day, a significant increase from the current rates of Nu 150 per day for the first month and Nu 125 per day thereafter. The current rates, established over two decades ago, no longer reflect the realities of inflation and the cost of living.

“The proposed DSA rate is aligned with the minimum national wage rate and accounts for inflation, as well as the recommendations from the Bhutan Kidney Foundation’s case studies,” Lyonpo said.

He acknowledged that this adjustment would triple DSA expenses but argued that it was necessary to provide patients and their escorts with sufficient financial support.

“This increase is expected to alleviate the struggles many currently face, ensuring they can focus on recovery by reducing undue financial burden,” Lyonpo said.

The revised referral guideline, which includes provisions for ABO-incompatible kidney transplants and improved financial support mechanisms, seeks to ease the burden on patients and families.

Lyonpo emphasised that these changes aim to ensure equitable access to life-saving treatments while minimizing unnecessary hardships.