LIFE ON HOLD Heart transplants not yet performed in FBiH, shortage of liver donors

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - The University Clinical Center of Sarajevo (KCUS) announced that liver and heart transplants could soon be performed at this health institution, which will mean a lot to patients waiting for organ transplants.

According to Tomislav Žuljević, president of the Association of Dialysis and Transplanted Patients of the Federation of BiH, there are currently about 260 patients on the waiting lists for kidney transplants, and approximately 20 waiting for liver and heart transplants.

We have not yet performed a heart transplant in BiH, and it is expected that one of these three clinical centers in BiH – in Sarajevo, Tuzla, or Mostar – will perform them. North Macedonia has already performed four or five heart transplants, why shouldn't BiH?

- We are strengthening the transplant program in all areas. We have big plans for liver and heart transplants next year – announced yesterday on her Facebook prof. dr. Sebija Izetbegović, general director of KCUS.

 KCUS has also performed mechanical pump procedures for some patients. It is a very expensive procedure and these pumps are expensive. Other patients unfortunately died. 

Every year, about 2.5 million marks are allocated from the Solidarity Fund for transplants, and 100 or 200 thousand are spent.

As for liver transplants, they are already being performed at the University Clinical Center (UKC) in Tuzla.

However, the lack of donors is a big problem. Patients who do not have the opportunity to receive a part of the liver from a living related donor can only receive a liver from a deceased person. That is why we have a small number of liver transplants.