Latest news with #TurkiAl-Otaibi
Kuwait Times
14-08-2025
- Health
- Kuwait Times
Kuwaiti surgeons conducted record number of kidney transplants last year
Dr. Turki Al-Otaibi KUWAIT: Dr. Turki Al-Otaibi, Kuwait Transplant Society President said Wednesday that Kuwaiti surgeons made trailblazing achievements in 2024 with successful kidney transplant surgeries hitting to reporters on World Organ Donation Day, globally observed on August 13, he said this is an occasion to renew the humanitarian appeal and raise public awareness about the importance of organ donation. Organ donation reflects humanitarian and compassionate response from donors and a moral responsibility for saving the lives of other people, he pointed out. The State of Kuwait has now nearly 15,000 registered donors Dr. Al-Otaibi, also chairman of the Arab Society of Nephrology and Renal Transplantation (ASNRT), highlighted the need to remove misconceptions about organ 172,000 transplants were conducted globally in 2023, which represent 10 percent of the global demand for organs donation, he many as. 1.5 million patients needed urgent transplants which means that nine of 10 patients fail to get the a vital organ, Dr. Al-Otaibi said, citing figures of the World Health Organization. — KUNA
Arab Times
13-08-2025
- Health
- Arab Times
Kidney patients top list as 557 waiting for transplant
KUWAIT CITY, Aug 13 : Dr. Turki Al- Otaibi, head of Kuwait Center for Organ Diseases and Transplantation, has unveiled preparations for the first lung transplant in the country by the end of this year at the Chest Diseases Hospital. Al-Otaibi announced in a special interview on Kuwait TV on the occasion of World Organ Transplantation Day, which falls on Aug 13 of each year. He affirmed that Kuwait focuses on developing and updating organ transplant programs of various types -- kidney, heart, pancreas, liver and other existing and emerging programs. He said the problem of organ shortage is one of the most difficult global and local challenges. 'Although around 158,000 organ transplants were performed worldwide in 2022; this does not exceed 10 percent of the number of patients on the waiting lists,' he added. He stated that 557 patients in Kuwait are on the organ transplant waiting list -- 500 kidney transplant patients, 30 liver transplant patients, 15 pancreas transplant patients, five combined pancreas-kidney transplant patients, and seven heart transplant patients. He stressed that the State of Kuwait, represented by the Ministry of Health, is committed to developing and modernizing the infrastructure for organ transplant programs and raising awareness on the importance of posthumous organ donation. He revealed that the number of posthumous organ donation card holders in Kuwait is around 15,000; clarifying the card is like a will that requires two fully qualified witnesses. He stated that only one percent of these individuals are eligible to donate organs posthumously, as donation requires brain death, not cardiac death. He emphasized the need for concerted efforts to increase the availability of donation cards and raise awareness on the importance in saving patients' lives. He pointed out that there are several organ transplant programs in the country; some of which are fully operational, while others are suspended or under preparation. He added that the kidney transplant program, established in 1979, is one of the oldest programs in the Middle East. He stated that during the past year, 149 kidney transplants were performed, including 76 brain-dead organ donations, all of which were successful. He said that Kuwait also has heart and pancreas transplant programs. The first heart transplant in the country was performed in 2019, and since then, seven successful heart transplants have been performed. 'The first pancreas transplant was performed in 2007, after which the program was suspended and resumed in 2023 with a combined pancreas and kidney transplant,' he revealed. Regarding suspended programs, Al-Otaibi disclosed that the liver transplant program was launched in 2020; and the first liver transplant was performed during the COVID-19 crisis. 'However, the program was halted for organizational and administrative reasons,' he explained.
Arab Times
10-02-2025
- Health
- Arab Times
Kuwaiti doctor wins ISN Mideast Regional presidency
KUWAIT CITY, Feb 10: The Ministry of Health announced on Sunday that Dr. Turki Al-Otaibi has been elected as president of the Middle East Regional Council of the International Society of Nephrology (ISN). The election took place during the ISN World Congress held in New Delhi, India. This significant achievement marks Dr. Al-Otaibi as the first Kuwaiti to hold this prestigious position since the establishment of the ISN, underscoring the growing recognition of Kuwaiti medical expertise on the international stage. Dr. Al-Otaibi, whose career is marked by numerous achievements, currently serves as the President of the Arab Society of Nephrology and Renal Transplantation, as well as the Chief of the Nephrology and Kidney Transplant Department at the Kuwaiti Center for Nephrology and Kidney Transplant. He is also the president of the Kuwaiti Organ Transplant Society. His extensive experience has established him as a leading expert in nephrology and kidney transplantation, both regionally and globally. Throughout his career, Dr. Al-Otaibi has delivered numerous scientific lectures at prestigious medical institutions worldwide, further enhancing his reputation in the field. This accomplishment highlights Kuwait's prominent role in the field of nephrology and kidney transplantation, a testament to the country's medical professionals and its pioneering healthcare institutions.
