Cost of Liver Transplant in Nigeria (2024)
Surgery for a liver transplant is an extremely expensive and difficult medical operation. Nevertheless, compared to western nations, the national average for the cost of liver transplant operation is actually not encouraging. This gives the process the appearance of being exclusive to the wealthy. However, individuals with acute liver failure or end-stage liver cancer have the surgery. The operation entails removing the recipient’s damaged liver and substituting it with a healthy liver (from the donor). What is the price of liver surgery in Nigeria then? Throughout this article, we will learn about this value.
The liver is a vital organ that performs a number of important functions in the body, including filtering toxins from the blood, producing bile to help digest fats, and storing nutrients. When the liver becomes damaged or diseased, it may not be able to function properly, leading to serious health problems. In some cases, a liver transplant may be necessary to replace the damaged or diseased liver with a healthy one.
Liver transplants can be expensive, as they require a complex surgical procedure and the use of specialized medical equipment. In addition, there is often a significant cost associated with pre- and post-transplant care, including medications and follow-up visits. The purpose of this blog post is to explore the cost of liver transplants in Nigeria, including the various factors that can affect the cost and the options that may be available for financing a transplant.
ABOUT THE PROCEDURE – LIVER TRANSPLANT
A liver transplant is carried out to replace the diseased liver in the patient’s body with a healthy liver, either in its entirety or in part. Being a surgical procedure, it necessitates both pre- and post-operative care, as well as hospitalization. The only treatment for liver disorders in their advanced stages is a liver transplant surgery.
When blood types and other tests are matched, the liver can be removed from a close relative or a brain-dead donor. A patient with liver illness whose life expectancy is less than a year may be a candidate for a transplant. However, a liver transplant won’t work if the patient also has other serious illnesses including cancer, an active infection, drug abuse, or other serious medical conditions that indicate a reduced life expectancy. Early diagnosis and treatment of liver conditions are therefore always advantageous.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO DO LIVER TRANSPLANT IN NIGERIA
Nigerian patients who want to undergo the liver transplant procedure must be aware that it is an expensive procedure and should be financially ready to carry out the procedure. In Nigeria, liver transplant surgery will cost an average of ₦5 million to ₦15 million on average depending on the hospital you decide to do the liver surgery.
Several elements can influence how much a liver transplant operation costs in Nigeria:
- Admission fee
- Surgeon fee
- Age of the patient
- Relationship to the liver donor
- The medical condition of the patient
- Post-surgical complications that are involved
- Admission room that you opted for
- Any more examinations or lab testing, including X-rays, ECGs, etc.
When these things are taken into account, the cost of a liver transplant surgery in Nigeria is almost like that of Kidney transplant.
AVERAGE LIVER TRANSPLANT COST IN NIGERIA HOSPITALS
Below are the average cost of liver transplant in Nigerian cities:
- Liver Transplant cost in Lagos Hospitals ₦2,300,000.
- Liver Transplant cost in Kano Hospitals ₦2,370,000.
- Liver Transplant cost in Ibadan Hospitals ₦2,398,000.
- Liver Transplant cost in Kaduna Hospitals ₦2,426,000.
- Liver Transplant cost in Port Harcourt Hospitals ₦2,342,000.
- Liver Transplant cost in Benin Hospitals ₦2,412,000.
- Liver Transplant cost in Abuja Hospitals ₦2,384,000.
- Liver Transplant cost in Maiduguri Hospitals ₦2,349,000.
LIVER TRANSPLANT IN NIGERIA: WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
Surgery for liver transplants is only performed by a small number of surgeons in Nigeria. The success percentage of a liver transplant depends on the surgeon’s experience and the facilities and technology that are available.
Before choosing to have a liver transplant, you should receive a thorough second opinion from a local, skilled surgeon. Find in-depth testimonials from former clients who underwent liver transplants in Nigeria.
When compared to other nations across the world that offer the same standard of medical care and services, the cost of a liver transplant in Nigeria is fairly reasonable. One of the main reasons that hundreds of individuals from all over the world choose to fly to Lagos for medical treatment is the aggregate amount of a liver transplant.
According to estimates, the cost of a liver transplant in Nigeria is at least 60 to 70 percent less than what a patient would typically pay for the same therapy in the US. Even after accounting for extra expenses and length of hospital stays, the average cost of liver transplant treatment in Nigeria remains inexpensive.
Access to top-notch medical care is made possible by Nigeria’s affordable liver transplantation costs for patients from all over the world. Most patients from these underdeveloped, technologically backward nations lack access to excellent medical care and highly specialized treatment. Each year, hundreds of people from these nations travel to Lagos, Nigeria, for liver transplants because the cost is lower there.
The price of a liver transplant depends on a number of variables. Two important elements that affect the total cost of a liver transplant are the type of hospital the patient chooses for their care as well as the location of the city. Additionally, it hinges on how much the patient is willing to spend on travel, lodging, and meals.
LIVER TRANSPLANT INSURANCE COVERAGE IN NIGERIA
Numerous retail and corporate health insurance providers in Nigeria offer financial support for liver transplants in Lagos. The sort of health insurance product you’ve chosen and the insurance’s terms will affect the coverage for liver transplant surgery.
BEST HOSPITALS FOR LIVER TRANSPLANT IN NIGERIA
In Nigeria, there are many hospitals that have received JCI accreditation and offer high-quality healthcare at a price. The clinical outcomes of liver transplant surgery with highly skilled medical teams are on par with those in the United States.
ST. NICHOLAS HOSPITAL, LAGOS
Nigeria’s premier multi-specialty tertiary care hospital is called St. Nicholas. All patients in their outpatient, inpatient, and emergency care facilities receive healthcare services from them. The facility established a dialysis and kidney transplant unit, making it the first private hospital in Africa to do so. The first pediatric kidney transplant in West Africa was also accomplished here. The hospital takes delight in announcing that 160 transplant procedures have been successful.
LAGOON HOSPITAL, LAGOS
One of the top private healthcare service providers is Lagoon Hospital. The hospital is regarded as one of Nigeria’s top tertiary care providers since it continuously invests in modernizing its technology and personnel. It is the first hospital in the Sub-Saharan region to get Joint Commission International accreditation and reaccreditation (JCI).
PRIMUS SUPER SPECIALITY HOSPITAL, ABUJA
A reputable tertiary care facility in Nigeria is Primus International Super Speciality Hospital, Karu. This facility excels in specialized surgeries. The hospital is outfitted with cutting edge equipment and has sophisticated infrastructure that was built and maintained to international standards.
EKO HOSPITAL, LAGOS
Nigerian patients can get a variety of multidisciplinary healthcare services at the 130-bed Eneli Kuku Obiora (EKO) Hospital in Ikeja. The hospitals provide a variety of diagnostic and therapeutic services across a number of disciplines, all performed by highly qualified medical staff.
FIRST CONSULTANTS MEDICAL CENTRE
First Consultants Medical Centre (FCMC), located in Lagos, Nigeria, is a well-known multidisciplinary private medical center. Gynecology and obstetrics, pediatrics and neonatology, internal medicine, and general surgery are just a few of the many medical specializations offered by FCMC, a dedicated facility.