The law N° 012/2023 of 13/03/2023 regulating the use of the human body, organs, tissues, cells and products of the human body for therapeutic, educational or scientific purposes was recently passed by parliament and published in the official journal.

This marks a key milestone and significant progress towards the implementation of organ transplant surgery services in Rwanda. This law will enable the performance of lifesaving medical procedures for many patients affected by terminal organ failure, within the country.

By authorizing transplant surgery services through ensuring a legal framework is in place, Rwanda hopes to significantly lower the number of patients who are referred abroad for organ transplants thus avoid travel costs and reduce medical bills for families seeking treatment these services abroad. Over the past 8 years, the Government of Rwanda has referred close to 70 patients to abroad for kidney transplants at a cost of over Rwf 800 million.

The Ministry of Health affirms that efforts are ongoing to upgrade King Faisal Hospital’s infrastructure and equipment in order to enhance its capacity to perform kidney transplant procedures and other highly specialized medical services. These efforts on improving service delivery are not only limited to King Faisal Hospital but to other teaching hospitals and health facilities across the country.

The introduction of kidney transplant procedures in Rwanda comes as the first of many organ transplants in various specialized medical services to be carried out within Rwanda in the near future. The Ministry of Health is also keen on strengthening research activities in the country which this law on the use of human body, organs, tissues, cells and products fosters. All these investments are in line with the vision of the Government of Rwanda to be a regional medical hub and to attract healthcare investors who may support in developing other specialized healthcare services in the country.