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… Two patients successfully completed surgery with LUTH
Nigeria’s improved expertise in bone marrow transplantation positions it to compete in a lucrative global market currently worth more than $11 billion.
Already, the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) has strengthened its capacity to provide bone marrow transplants by assembling a multi-specialty team of experienced medical professionals and expanding its medical infrastructure.
In a program launched last month in collaboration with the Sickle Cell Foundation of Nigeria (SCFN), two patients with sickle cell anemia have successfully undergone bone marrow transplants at the hospital, said Edamisan, professor and chairman of the LUTH University Bone Transplant Team. Temier said.
The two patients incurred significant costs, including the cost of finding suitable stem cell donors and purchasing essential supplies that had to be imported and approved by the National Food and Drug Administration (NAFDAC).
However, the hospital did not charge any fees for the specialist treatment.
“Bone marrow transplants cost between $500,000 and $800,000 in the United States. We know how many people can afford it. That’s why we need so much help. We have the expertise But there is still a lot we need. We don’t want to scare anyone,” said Wasiu Adeyemo, LUTH’s Chief Medical Director.
The hospital plans to perform the next series of procedures in January 2025.
One of the recipients was discharged from the hospital after receiving satisfactory results, and the second patient is expected to be discharged soon, Temier said.
LUTH aims to create local supply for the health market and contributes significantly to the $1 billion annual spending on medical tourism that weighs on Nigeria’s economy.
Nigeria is home to millions of people with blood disorders, including the world’s largest number of sickle cell patients at 4.3 million.
Approximately 8 out of 100 infants die from sickle cell anemia each year. People with means often seek this complex and expensive high-tech medicine in developed countries such as India, China, Turkey, Australia, and the United States.
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According to the SCFN, as of 2015, it cost N25 million to provide processing, air travel, food and accommodation for a single Nigerian for about six months in any country.
SCFN collaborated with a transplant center in Rome to facilitate the treatment and cure of approximately 45 people.
The report predicts that Nigeria could make treatment more accessible to its citizens by developing local bone marrow transplant procedures and building a supporting market for critical medical supplies.
This could significantly reduce costs to around 5 million Naira per individual.
Adeyemo said it was doubtful whether the process would be available to the average Nigerian due to the new realities created by the current economic hardships.
Major barriers to receiving bone marrow transplantation in Nigeria include limited availability, high cost, and the need for international travel.
The result is inequitable access to healthcare, financial burden on families, and reduced quality of life for patients.
Related article: Nigeria partners with Turkey to tap $8.5 trillion healthcare market
Ifeoma Okoye, Professor of Radiology and Director of the University of Nigeria Clinical Trials Center, said the LUTH program will enable Nigerians to access life-saving treatments at lower costs and improve healthcare outcomes.
These steps include initial diagnosis, hematopoietic stem cell procurement, donor selection, and compatibility testing.
Stem cell donation from an identical sibling is usually recommended as it provides superior results compared to unrelated donors.
According to data from the World Bone Marrow Donor Association, as of July 2024, there were 911 blood stem cell donors and cord blood units reported in Nigeria.
“It’s not cheap anywhere in the world. Most of the materials we used in this transplant were imported. By the time people know that we do about two or three transplants at LUTH, We can invest in bringing in the materials needed for transplantation or produce them locally, which will ultimately lower costs,” Professor Temier pointed out.
