Bone Marrow Transplant Cost in Kenya – Find Best Surgeon, Reviews and Success Rate

In 2022, Kenya launched the first bone marrow transplant procedure in Nairobi. Kenya is very proud of this significant medical advancement for patients experiencing blood disorders and bone marrow cancers who had to travel abroad to seek highly specialized treatments. In Kenya, people need a bone marrow transplant when suffering from life-threatening diseases such as leukemia, sickle cell disease, lymphomas, and immune deficiency disorders. Let’s find out more about Bone Marrow Transplant Cost in Kenya.

A bone marrow transplant is also referred to as a stem cell transplant. It is a medical procedure that involves replacing diseased bone marrow cells with healthy bone marrow cells from the patient’s body or a donor. Patients with different bone marrow conditions must undergo lymphoma and leukemia to restore healthy bone marrow cells to renew the patient’s healthy life.

Stem cell transplant can be Allogenic or Autologous in Kenya, which requires extraction of bone marrow cells and harvest (a process of extracting peripheral blood stem cells), freezing, and adding back in the patient’s affected part. While allogenic bone marrow transplants need genetically matching donors from family members, a brother or sister, and parents in rare conditions.

Average Cost of Bone Marrow Transplant in Kenya

Kenya provides the best bone marrow transplant treatments with growing tourism and economy for African citizens. The cost of an Autologous (Myeloma) bone marrow transplant cost in Kenya is $18,500 (KES 22,94,000), and the Autologous Lymphoma cost is $20,500 (KES 25,42,000). The Allogenic bone marrow transplant with full match leukemia, sickle cell anemia, ALL, AML, and Thalassemia costs $28,500(KES 35,34,000). The Allogenic bone marrow transplant with Half Match Leukemia, Thalassemia, All, AML, and Sickel Cell Anemia cost $37,500 (KES 46,50,000).

Bone Marrow Transplant Procedure Cost in Kenya

Autologous (Myeloma) Cost in Kenya: $18,500 (KES 22,94,000)

Kenya provides autologous bone marrow transplants for suitable patients. This procedure involves the patient’s healthy stem cells collected from the other part of the body. These are blood-forming cells extracted, stored, and then added back to the patient’s body where the disease grows. The BMT surgeon will remove the diseased cells and add healthy cells that grow over time. The Autologous bone marrow transplant is like a blood transfusion, taking 45 minutes depending on the stem cell’s volume—Autologous (Myeloma) Bone Marrow Transplant Costs in Kenya: $18,500 (KES 22,94,000).

Autologous (Lymphoma) Cost in Kenya: $20,500 (KES 25,42,000)

In the autologous Lymphoma procedure, the bone marrow transplant surgeon uses the patient’s stem cells for the transplant. First, the stem cells are collected from the patient and freeze it. After the patient undergoes high doses of chemotherapy, using radiation therapy to add stem cells back into the body. This type of transplant is often utilized to treat blood cancer. An autologous stem cell transplant aims to restore the body’s ability to create normal blood cells after a high dose of radiation or chemotherapy. Such intensive treatments commonly destroy the cancer cells better than standard treatments. Still, this high dose of therapy is toxic and removes the blood-producing stem cell in the bone marrow—Autologous (Lymphoma) Cost in Kenya: $20,500 (KES 25,42,000). 

Allogenic Full Match Bone Marrow Transplant Cost in Kenya: $28,500 (KES 35,34,000)

Allogeneic bone marrow transplant involves using donor stem cells to replace the diseased cells in the patient’s body. In a full-match allogeneic bone marrow transplant, the stem cells taken from the donor’s tissues closely match the patient. The best donor can be a family member like a sister or brother. Allogeneic full-match bone marrow transplant is suitable for Thalassemia, Sickel Cell Anemia, Leukemia, Acute myeloid leukemia, and Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL).

Allogenic (Half Match) Bone Marrow Transplant Cost in Kenya $37,500 (KES 46,50,000)

When a patient has less chance of finding fully matched stem cells, a 50% match or half match can also help achieve success in cancer cases. This treatment is effective against blood cancer diseases such as acute lymphoblastic leukemia and lymphoma, Sickel Cell Anemia, Acute myeloid leukemia, and Thalassemia. However, a half-matched bone marrow transplant can be hazardous and complicated. It demands expertise and the best care—Allogenic Half Match Bone Marrow Transplant Cost in Kenya: $37,500 (KES 46,50,000).

Pediatric Bone Marrow Transplant in Kenya: Ksh 3,840,000 ($32,000)

Some children with birth defects of bone marrow stem cells need attention. Some children develop the defects in later life due to fatal diseases such as Thalassemia, Aplastic anemia, Sickle cell disease, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome, Severe combined immunodeficiency disease, Franconi’s anemia, chronic granulomatous disease. A child suffering from cancer conditions, such as lymphoma, leukemia, Sarcoma, or Medulloblastoma, may need a bone marrow transplant.

Bone Marrow Test Cost In Kenya

Every patient has different test requirements for bone marrow transplants. Depending on the disease type, the test will be recommended. Here are the common tests list and cost.

Bone Marrow Donation or Stem Cell Donation

Bone marrow donation starts with blood-forming cell collection, also called stem cells. Blood stem cell donation is when a healthy person agrees to donate bone marrow. Donating bone marrow does not cause any problems for the donor, and it will help the cancer patient to become healthy. Stem cell donation extract immature stem cells from the donor’s bloodstream.

Bone marrow transplant donors must join the bone marrow registry with sample cells. These cells will undergo a test that compares the specific protein markers called human leukocyte antigens.

Bone marrow transplant donor recovery may complete in a week. Your marrow will get back to normal levels within some weeks. It is necessary to note that bone marrow only recovery time will depend on the type of donation and health type.

Bone Marrow Transplant NHIF Insurance Coverage Kenya

What Is A Requirement For The Approval Process By NHIF Overseas Treatment?

NHIF covers treatment overseas in Kenya. Here are the things need for approval:

• Latest medical reports
• National ID
• NHIF insurance copy
• Referral letter from doctor and hospital

The patient needs to fill overseas referral online application or download from NHIF overseas treatment application. Then, send the necessary document overseas to the nearest NHIF office, which will take 1-2 weeks after that patient receives an approval letter.

NHIF Bone Marrow Transplant Cost in Kenya

Who Can Get Benefits From NIHF Facilities?

• The new strategy will prioritize people suffering from chronic conditions such as kidney and cancer failure.
• To qualify for financing, a patient will require a verification letter from the Director of Medical Services.
• According to the revised rates, the minimum contribution is Sh 1000 per month, and the maximum is Sh 1700.

Who Is A Suitable Candidate For A Bone Marrow Transplant In Kenya?

After a diagnosis of bone marrow disease, the patient needs to check the eligibility with the following criteria:

• A healthy person between the age of 18 – 60
• A person should have a healthy BMI

Who Are Not A Suitable Candidate For A Bone Marrow Transplant?

People with major health diseases such as liver, lung, heart, and kidney problems are not eligible for bone marrow transplants.

Bone Marrow Transplant in Kenya: Reviews

• Kenya’s hospitals have been providing health services for 60 years and practicing advanced technologies.
• The hospital in Kenya has JCI accreditation with the highest marks of excellency.
• Kenya is the best and most potential medical tourism destination for regional people in Africa. Kenya performed its first successful bone marrow transplant in 2022, and they are ready to deliver the best treatments for other patients.
• Patients can expect high-standard treatments from international-level doctors and surgeons for bone marrow transplants.
• Kenya provides board-certified doctors and innovative technologies at Nairobi. The expert medical team focuses on researching innovative ways to provide patients with the best treatment and make their lives active again.
• Bone marrow transplant treatment is available for certain blood diseases such as myeloma, leukemia, lymphoma, and other blood disorders under professional experts who follow multidisciplinary approaches.

Bone Marrow Transplant Success Rate In Kenya

The bone marrow transplant success rate in Kenya is 70 – 90%. The overall success rate depends on the genetic match of the recipient and donor. However, the latest medicine prevents the pain and inflammation accompanied by slow bone loss.

Why Travel to Kenya for Bone Marrow Transplant?

Modern Facilities in Kenya

Kenya provides world-standard bone marrow transplant treatments under experienced doctors, residents, and medical teams. In addition, there are full-fledged blood banks, stem cell storage facilities, and medicine departments available. Kenya’s hospitals also have a professional team comprising infection control, Hemato pathologists, critical care medicine, radiation oncologist, and anesthesiologist. In addition, Kenya is the most developed country in South Africa, providing modern facilities, exclusively pre-transplant units, apheresis rooms, post-transplant recovery rooms, consultation areas, and follow-up visits.

Growing Medical Tourism in Kenya

Most of Kenya’s people travelled to India, South Africa, Tunisia, Egypt, Mauritius, and Europe. But presently, Kenya is taking the lead in medical tourism, especially in bone marrow transplant procedures. Private health and wellness facilities are growing in Kenya as part of medical tourism in Africa. The advanced facilities are attracting more people from neighbouring states to have treatments in Kenya. As a result, medical tourism is approved by African nationals getting high-end specialized medical services increasing in other African countries.

Professional Doctors in Kenya

The growing demand for treatment in Kenya has given several doctors opportunities—the best doctors who wish to participate in complex bone marrow transplant visit Kenya and provide the best services. Africa has experienced a high demand for several homeopathic treatments. African citizens can now have treatments from international doctors.

Bone Marrow Transplant Advanced Facilities in Kenya

The Nairobi Hospital of college sciences has conducted a short course about improving bone marrow transplant skills at Sh30,000. This course will improve a broad range of patient-centric and integrated services for managing and diagnosing all types of blood disorders in children and adults, including blood cancer. In addition, the training will improve patient safety and care in the long term, especially for bone marrow transplant patients.

Bone marrow diseases need special medical interventions and nursing regarding the patient’s neurological growth, nutrition, age, and general condition before, during, and after transplantation. Therefore, all the training will be provided during the training course.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is The Longest Surviving Bone Marrow Transplant Recipient Age?

The longest recipient of bone marrow transplant is Nancy King McLain. However, depending on their health type and lifestyle, the patient can survive 7 years to more.

Bone Marrow Transplant Donor In Kenya

A bone marrow transplant donor can be a brother, sister, or patient. If the patient does not find a matching donor from the family, they can choose a stranger donor.

What Are The Risks For A Bone Marrow Donor?

After donating bone marrow, a donor may experience muscle pain, back pain, fatigue, headaches, and bruising.

Bone Marrow Transplant Timeline In Kenya?

The bone marrow transplant timeline may take up to 6 – 12 months or more for blood counts to be close to normal and strengthen the immune system. During this time, the patient will be under observation.

Life After Bone Marrow Transplant?

It will take 3 to 12 months for the immune system to recover from a bone marrow transplant. The patient will have similar life as a newborn after a bone marrow transplant. There will be an infection risk at the initial time. Therefore, the patient will be kept under observation.

Why Would You Need A Bone Marrow Transplant?

Bone marrow transplant is important to treat different types of cancer, such as lymphoma, myeloma, leukemia, and other immune system and blood diseases that impact bone marrow.

Bone Marrow Transplant Side Effects

The bone marrow transplant side effects may differ from person to person. The transplant team will manage the side effects and prevent them. The side effects can be mild to life-threatening. It is necessary to reach out to your doctor to treat the side effect in time. Side effects include throat pain, mouth pain, transfusions, bleeding, graft failure, and graft-versus-host disease.

Bone Marrow Transplant Failed What Next?

If a bone marrow transplant fails, the patient will need another transplant. The second bone marrow transplant may use cells from a different or the same donor.

What Is The Most Common Cause Of Death After A Bone Marrow Transplant?

The common causes of death after bone marrow transplant include toxicity, infection, and graft vs host disease.

Can Females Donate Bone Marrow?

Females can become donors for bone marrow transplants, but they must meet certain requirements such as age, health, and no disease.

Who Cannot Donate Bone Marrow?

People with autoimmune disorders such as systemic lupus, multiple sclerosis, chronic fatigue, and fibromyalgia are not eligible for bone marrow donation.

Conclusion

Bone marrow transplant in Kenya is a successful and safe procedure. BMT help to cure diseases and restore healthy life in the patient. The treatment and survival after transplant may significantly change in the patient. The success of a bone marrow transplant relies on the patient’s health and how it responds to the treatment and medications. Kenya has constantly improved its facilities and always provides the latest treatments.

Best Bone Marrow Transplant Surgeons & Hospitals in Kenya