King Faisal Hospital Rwanda is preparing to introduce liver transplant services in partnership with specialists from Türkiye’s Acıbadem Hospitals, in a move expected to expand access to advanced treatment for patients with severe liver disease.
The planned service was discussed on October 27, when King Faisal Hospital hosted a team of specialists in organ transplantation and surgery. According to Umuryango.rw, the discussions focused on establishing the service, conducting research and training Rwandan medical professionals.
Partnership Aims to Expand Specialised Care
Dr Augustin Sendegeya, Director of Medical Services at King Faisal Hospital, said the number of patients requiring liver transplants was increasing. He noted that travelling abroad for such treatment can be financially demanding for patients and their families.
Introducing the procedure in Rwanda could help patients access specialised care closer to home and reduce the need for costly medical travel. However, the hospital is still preparing to introduce the service, and a launch date has not yet been confirmed in the available report.
A liver transplant involves replacing a severely damaged or failing liver with a healthy liver, or part of one, from a suitable donor. It may be considered for patients whose liver disease has advanced to a stage where other treatments are no longer sufficient.
Rwanda Builds on Progress in Kidney Transplantation
The planned liver transplant programme builds on Rwanda’s experience with kidney transplantation at King Faisal Hospital. Dr Sendegeya said the hospital had provided kidney transplant services since May 2023, with 115 patients having received the procedure by the time of the October 2026 announcement.
Rwanda has previously expanded access to kidney transplantation through collaboration between local medical teams and international specialists. In July 2026, the University of Michigan Medical School reported that Rwanda had reached the milestone of 100 kidney transplants through its collaboration with King Faisal Hospital.
That progress demonstrates how international medical partnerships can support specialised treatment while helping build local expertise. The proposed liver transplant programme would require similar coordination among surgeons, other clinical specialists, hospital teams and relevant authorities.
Specialists Highlight Potential of Liver Transplantation
Prof. Hamdi Karakayali, an organ transplant specialist at Acıbadem Hospitals, said outcomes can be favourable when transplantation is performed by experienced teams. According to figures he shared with King Faisal Hospital, kidney transplant success rates can reach 99%, while liver transplant outcomes can exceed 90%.
These figures were reported by Umuryango.rw as statements made by the specialist. They should not be interpreted as guaranteed outcomes for every patient, since results depend on individual medical circumstances, donor suitability and the quality of care before and after surgery.
Prof. Karakayali explained that patients with kidney failure may receive haemodialysis, a treatment that filters waste and excess fluid from the blood when the kidneys cannot perform these functions adequately. Severe liver failure presents a different challenge because no machine can fully replace all the liver’s functions.
He also said that, over 33 years in the field, he had participated in approximately 3,500 kidney transplants and 2,500 liver transplants. He highlighted the satisfaction of seeing patients, including children, recover and return to their lives.
Organ Donation Remains a Major Challenge
The availability of suitable donor organs is one of the main challenges facing transplant programmes worldwide. Prof. Karakayali said that in Türkiye, approximately 80% of liver transplant recipients receive a portion of the liver from a living donor.
The liver has the ability to regenerate, allowing a donated portion to grow and help meet the needs of the donor and recipient. However, living donation requires careful medical assessment, informed consent and safeguards to protect both people involved.
Rwanda has a legal framework governing the use and transplantation of human organs. The Government of Rwanda explained in its May 2023 announcement on the country’s first kidney transplant procedures that organ donation and transplantation must protect the health and rights of both donors and recipients.
The development of a liver transplant service would therefore depend not only on surgical expertise and hospital capacity, but also on donor evaluation, patient selection, ethical safeguards and long-term follow-up care.
Improving Access to Advanced Treatment
King Faisal Hospital’s planned collaboration with Acıbadem Hospitals is intended to strengthen Rwanda’s capacity to manage complex liver conditions, train local healthcare professionals and expand specialised medical services.
If implemented, the programme could give eligible patients another treatment option within Rwanda and reduce the burden associated with seeking care abroad. Its eventual impact will depend on the service’s implementation, availability of suitable donors, affordability and the hospital’s ability to provide comprehensive care before and after transplantation.
