By Redha Sardar
ANKARA, Nov 1 (KUNA) -- A new liver transplant program will be launched soon in Kuwait in cooperation with the King's College London, said a Kuwaiti medical official Wednesday.
Speaking to KUNA on the sideline of the second joint meeting of the Turkish Transplantation Society and the Turkic World Transplantation Society, head of the Hamid Al-Essa Organ Transplant Center Dr. Mustafa Al-Mosawi said that a deal was struck last October with the British college to establish a new program for liver transplant in Kuwait.
He indicated that the final details of the deal had been set, affirming that a new liver center will be establish soon.
Dr. Al-Mosawi said that Kuwait began it organ transplant program in February of 1979, saving countless lives since then. Providing further historical context, the Kuwaiti official said that in 1996 some 800 patients' lives were saved due to 256 organs provided by deceased donors.
He added that some 2,137-liver transplant operations were conducted in the old program with a success rate of 90 percent annually.
Meanwhile, a Saudi medical official lauded the organ exchange program between his country and Kuwait.
Director General of the Saudi transplant society Dr. Faisal Al-Shaheen said that the program have managed to save countless lives in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.
He indicated that similar programs existed between Saudi Arabia and other GCC as well as Arab countries, affirming that these programs also saved lives.
The second joint meeting of the Turkish Transplantation Society and the Turkic World Transplantation Society will continue until November 3. (end) rs.gta