News

Members of the transplant teams from Nepal and Newcastle, during a clinical observer visit to the UK 

Since joining the ISN–TTS Sister Transplant Centers (STC) Program in 2017, the Shahid Dharmabhakta National Transplant Center (SDNTC) (formerly known as the Human Organ Transplant Center) in Nepal has undergone a remarkable transformation. Its partnership with the Freeman Hospital in the UK has strengthened clinical skills, expanded services, and improved kidney transplant outcomes across the country. 

Transformation in numbers: 

• Annual kidney transplants rose from 132 in 2017 to 186 in 2023 — the highest to date 

• The center has advanced its paired kidney exchange program and performed 10 deceased donor kidney transplants, including the country’s first brain-death donation 

• Diagnostic capacity also expanded, with a peak of 187 renal biopsies conducted in 2022 

Regular exchange visits — with SDNTC staff training at Freeman Hospital and expert visits to Nepal — were central to this progress. Tailored support enhanced skills in patient counseling, postoperative care, and deceased donation practices. Laparoscopic donor nephrectomy, introduced in 2018, is now a standard procedure, improving donor safety and surgical outcomes. Transplant capacity also grew significantly, with five specialist nurses joining the team as transplant coordinators — a crucial step toward more consistent, high-quality care.  

The collaboration has fostered long-term improvements through IT upgrades and exposure to international best practices. Despite resource constraints, the SDNTC continues to innovate, using virtual training and local partnerships to sustain momentum. 

Pukar Chandra Shrestha, liaison officer at the SDNTC, remarked, “We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the ISN–TTS STC program for the invaluable opportunity to gain insights from developed nations. Your support has been instrumental in enhancing the quality of our transplant services in Nepal. Thank you for empowering us to elevate our practices and make a significant impact in our country.” 

Looking ahead, the SDNTC aims to expand its deceased donor program and help develop new transplant centers in Nepal — a vision that echoes the ISN–TTS STC Program’s core goal: building sustainable, high-quality transplant care through global collaboration. 

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