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Nonresident living kidney donors.
W Zuidema1, N Tronchet, A Luchtenburg
1Departments of Internal Medicine, Social Work, General Surgery, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. w.zuidema@erasmusmc.nl
Transplantation Proceedings
|April 26, 2005
Summary
Supporting foreign living kidney donors traveling to the Netherlands is cost-effective, despite logistical challenges. This study found no evidence of kidney donation being used as an immigration route.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Transplantation
- Public Health
Background:
- Increasing immigrant populations lead to more foreign patients needing kidney transplants.
- Relatives of foreign patients are willing to donate kidneys, but face logistical and financial hurdles.
- Concerns exist regarding potential immigration abuse of the living kidney donation program.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of supporting foreign living kidney donors.
- To assess the financial impact of international living kidney donation.
- To investigate the potential for kidney donation to be exploited as an immigration pathway.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 395 living kidney transplantations performed in Rotterdam (1981-2003).
- Inclusion of 32 cases with foreign donors and 14 potential foreign donors who did not donate.
- Calculation of costs including visa, travel, insurance, and lost income for foreign donors.
Main Results:
- The total financial impact for 46 potential foreign donors was calculated.
- The average cost per actual performed donation was estimated.
- One instance of a foreign donor remaining in the Netherlands illegally was recorded.
Conclusions:
- Supporting foreign living kidney donors is justified and cost-effective.
- The study found no evidence to support the hypothesis of a kidney donation immigration route.
- International collaboration in living kidney donation is feasible and beneficial.