KPJ Healthcare starts kidney transplant service at Tawakkal Specialist Hospital

PETALING JAYA: KPJ Healthcare Bhd has launched its first kidney transplant service within its hospital network, expanding access to specialised treatment for patients with kidney failure.

The service, introduced at Tawakkal Specialist Hospital, marks a milestone for the group as it strengthens advanced clinical capabilities within the KPJ Health System.

The launch follows a successful kidney transplant procedure earlier this year involving a living related donor, carried out by a multi-disciplinary team of specialists.

Consultant urologist Dr Norman Dublin and Dr Azad Hassan Abdul Razack performed the procedure, together with consultant nephrologist and internal medicine specialist Dr Iqbal Abdul Hafidz, supported by anaesthesiologists, radiologists, intensive care specialists, nurses and allied health professionals.

KPJ Healthcare said kidney transplantation is an important treatment option for suitable patients with end-stage kidney disease, potentially offering better long-term outcomes and reduced dependence on dialysis.

The service is supported by an integrated care pathway covering nephrology, transplant surgery, anaesthesiology, radiology, intensive care, pharmacy, rehabilitation, dietetics, laboratory services and transplant coordination, ensuring continuity of care for donors and recipients.

KPJ Healthcare president and managing director Chin Keat Chyuan said the initiative reflects the group’s push to expand access to complex specialised care.

He added that kidney transplantation requires strong clinical governance and long-term specialist care.

“This service demonstrates how the KPJ Health System brings these capabilities together to support patients who require advanced treatment and ongoing care,” he said in a statement.

KPJ Healthcare chief medical director Dr Hanafiah Harunarashid said transplantation offers meaningful benefits for suitable patients with advanced kidney disease.

“For suitable patients with end-stage kidney disease, kidney transplantation can offer improved quality of life and reduce dependence on long-term dialysis,” he said.

Tawakkal Specialist Hospital medical director Dr Nurhashim Haron said the service also builds on the hospital’s legacy in renal care, including early transplant procedures in the 1980s under the late Dr Hussein Awang.

“We are honoured to continue that legacy by making kidney transplantation available to a new generation of patients,” he said.

For more information on Tawakkal Specialist Hospital, visit https://kpjhealth.com.my/tawakkal.