A business executive has called for legislation to harvest healthy kidneys of persons declared dead by medical practitioners at hospitals to aid a kidney transplant system.

The Executive Chairman of the First Sky Group, Eric Seddy Kutortse, said the end-stage disease was best treated with a kidney transplant which required donor kidneys from deceased or living persons.

However, he said, the country lacked legislation to harvest this vital part from the deceased to help in Kidney Replacement Therapy (KRT).

“KRT is delivered in three ways: haemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis and kidney transplantation. End-stage renal disease is best treated with a kidney transplant. Individuals with end-stage kidney disease in Ghana now have access to kidney transplant surgery as a treatment option. 

“This requires donor kidneys, whether deceased or alive. Unfortunately, however, there is no legislation in Ghana concerning organ harvesting. As a result, there is the requirement to create a legislative regime that would support the establishment of a long-term organ harvesting programme,” he said.   

Mr Kutortse made the call in Accra yesterday at the 22nd anniversary Thanksgiving of First Sky Group. It was on the theme: “Proclaiming God’s Unfailing Love”.

He said the research indicated that it took about 18 hours before one’s kidney expired, which meant that the organ could be harvested for use by the living that needed same to survive.

Relief

The Executive Chairman said the First Sky Group had since 2016 spent more than GH¢36 million on a free dialysis and kidney transplant programme at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital KBTH).

He said the company had over the years fully sponsored kidney transplant surgeries for 16 patients with chronic end-stage kidney disease who required KRT to survive; adding that, by the end of this month four new patients would be catered for under the same programme. 

Support

The acting Chief Executive Officer of KBTH, Dr Frank Owusu Sekyere, supported the call for legislation on harvesting not only the kidney but also the heart, bones and other vital organs for storage and transplantation.

He indicated that the KBTH was ready to partner the First Sky Group and other advocates for the passage of the legislation, saying, the legislation would benefit patients who needed it in the country and the West African sub-region.Dr Sekyere also commended the First Sky Group for consistently supporting the KBTH with renal transplants to renal patients over the years, worth over GH¢50 million.

Legislation, commendation 

Speaking on behalf of President John Dramani Mahama, the Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, indicated that the President would initiate the necessary consultations for the legislation concerning harvesting critical human parts of deceased persons to aid health delivery.

“The President said I should let you know that as soon as his Minister of Health is in place, the necessary legislation will be looked at in consultation with our various traditional authorities and the various civil society organisations CSOs to ensure that we get this in place. 

“Because as a country, kidney issues are becoming a bit rampant and we cannot sit unconcerned. Leadership needs to take the bold step for us to do something about it,” he stated.

Reset

Mr Debrah indicated that as part of the government’s resetting agenda, it would take the necessary measures through policy formulations for businesses to thrive and create jobs for the youth.

“His Excellency wants me to use this occasion to commemorate your 22nd Thanksgiving to let the business community know and understand that his doors are going to be open. If you come to the Presidency through his Minister of Trade and Industry and say to him, Mr President, if you are able to do A, B, C, D for me, I will be able to create 500 jobs, 1,000 jobs or more, he wants me to give you the assurance that attention will be paid to it and we'll follow it,” the Chief of Staff said.