Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) has partnered with Novartis Pharma Services to help Kenyan renal patients get affordable kidney transplants, reducing it from Sh700,000 to less than Sh500,000, thereby adding to their lifeline.

"It will boost the confidence that patients will have in our local people. It does not make much sense to go to India or whatever other place for a transplant if we can have it done locally", cited Novartis area office head Samuel Nyabwana.

According to Dr Anthony Were, the head of the renal unit at the hospital, 142 patients are currently on dialysis, with 110 of them in need of kidney transplants.

Dr Kabetu claimed that the partnership would enable KNH doctors and renal patients save time as it would allow the hospital to conduct two transplants per week as opposed to the two transplants done last year.

After the pilot phase, the pharmacy will provide medication to patients at a reduced cost. "Under the new partnership, the patients under the program will access medicines at a cost of Sh30,000 per month", Dr Kabetu said.

The hospital declares March 8 to 12 as the Renal Transplant Week and eight kidney transplants are scheduled to be performed.