In the presence of a group of public figures and specialists…a symposium discusses the future of kidney transplantation in Egypt from recently deceased donors

In the presence of an elite group of public figures and specialists from inside and outside Egypt, the Egyptian Urological Association held its 57th annual conference, from October 30 to November 2, 2023 in Cairo.

On the sidelines of the conference, a symposium was held on “The Future of Kidney Transplantation in Egypt from Recently Deceased Donors” headed by Prof. Mohamed Awad Tag El-Din, Advisor to the President of the Republic for Health and Prevention Affairs, His Eminence Dr. Ali Gomaa, Chairman of the Religious Committee in the House of Representatives, and the former Mufti of the Republic, Bishop Jeremiah, The General Bishop and Head of the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center, Prof. Mahmoud El-Meteini, former President of Ain Shams University, Prof. Ahmed Shehab El-Din, former President of Mansoura University, Representative Dr. Ali Mahran, Chairman of the Senate Health Committee, and the session was moderated by Prof. Hesham Hamouda, Professor of Urology at Assiut University and Member of the Supreme Committee for Kidney Transplantation.

The symposium was held in the presence of Prof. Hassan Abu Al-Enein, Professor of Urology at Mansoura University and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Scientific Society of Urogenital Surgeons, Prof. Sherif Murad, Professor of Urology at Ain Shams University, and Secretary General of the Society, Prof. Abdel Wahab Ezzat, former President of Ain Shams University, Prof. Hassan Shaker, Head of the Urology Department at Ain Shams Medicine, and a group of faculty staff and specialists.

Prof. Mohamed Awad Tag El-Din explained the experience of organ transplantation in general in Egypt and the gradual development of laws regulating it, pointing out that a large part of the problem of organ transplantation is related to the emotional and psychological aspect of the family of the person who suffers from brain stem death, in addition to There is some controversy among members of the medical community around the world about this matter.

In his speech, His Eminence Dr. Ali Gomaa confirmed that the laws governing organ transplantation are issued in more than 20 Arab and Islamic countries, including Egypt, and that the problem is not in the laws and their executive regulations or whether they are religiously permissible or not, which have been discussed in many forums and conferences. But the problem lies in the application, which requires political will to achieve it, because it is linked to logistical matters such as transporting organs from one governorate to another by equipped planes, etc. There are also obstacles related to public opinion and its vision about organ transplantation, which requires work to change it and spread the culture of organ volunteering. He also talked about the definition of death from a jurisprudential standpoint.

Bishop Aramiah explained that organ donation is consistent with Christian teachings and commandments, pointing out that although this science did not exist in the past, there are texts in Christianity that call for mercy and benevolence, and organ donation represents true solidarity between man and his fellow man, as life has great value and organ transplantation. It will not harm the deceased, but it will improve the life of a living person.

He stressed the need to establish strict controls so that organs are not turned into a commodity that can be bought and sold.

Prof. Mahmoud El-Meteini, former president of Ain Shams University, and the pioneer of liver transplantation in Egypt, confirmed that a lot has been accomplished in the organ transplantation file, stressing the prominent roles and efforts made by a number of figures in this important file, which resulted in the issuance of the organ transplantation law and its executive regulations.

He added that organ transplantation has imposed itself as an urgent need, and there are no moral or religious obstacles, but there are psychological and ideological obstacles related to the sanctification of the body after death, in addition to the need for the political will of those in charge of matters.

Dr. Ali Mahran, Chairman of the Senate Health Committee, also spoke about a parliamentary vision for the new organ transplant law in Egypt, stressing the personal interest of His Excellency President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi in this issue and providing a global center for it. His Excellency the Representative offered to adopt any fruitful proposal on this issue under the dome of Parliament.

Prof. Hesham Hamouda emphasized that the small number of kidneys needed for transplantation in patients with kidney failure, as they do not exceed 10% of the patients’ needs in Egypt, and that they must be provided for recently deceased patients, as is the case in the rest of the world.

Dr. Nasr El-Din Muhammad, assistant professor of urology, reviewed the German experience in kidney transplantation, and Prof. Yasser Othman, professor of urology at Mansoura University, presented the Iranian experience, as well as Prof. Ahmed Al-Zahrani, reviewed the Saudi experience in his country, and Prof. Ismail Rady, professor of urology and treasurer of the association, offered his suggestions to Egypt to implement this system.

Prof. Sheref Murad pointed out that the Egyptian Urology Association is one of the oldest non-profit medical associations. It was established in 1947, and one of the first associations to join the Egyptian Medical Association. This year’s conference of the Association witnessed a great development in content and form over previous years, as it There was an increase in the number of participants, and the number of lectures, sessions, courses, and seminars, in addition to the presence of live broadcasts from inside and outside Egypt of surgeries performed live.

A special section was also created for young doctors, who will have a special session within the corridors of the conference, and a section was also created for social activities and hobbies for participants.