title: The cost of kidney transplantation in Iran.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Kidney transplantation has gained widespread popularity by improving the outcome of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients. However, this is a highly complicated and expensive procedure that puts much pressure on the health system in developing countries. We report the costs in Iran model of kidney transplantation.
  
  
  METHODS
  We reviewed the regulations for kidney transplantation using Dialysis and Transplant Patients Association (DATPA) information, 2005. All data regarding the cost of transplantation procedure, immunosuppression, and the money given to donors were included. The cost of transplantation procedure was categorized into personnel, drugs, paraclinics, hospital bed, and other expenses. To achieve more comprehensive results, all costs were converted into US dollars (1 USD = 9000 Rials).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The total cost of kidney transplantation procedure was $9224. Of this, 65.8% ($6076) was related to the immunosuppression therapy in the first year, 22.2% ($2048) to the transplantation procedure, and 12% ($1100) to organ procurement. The details of donor nephrectomy were as follows: personnel, $183; accommodations, $107; drugs, $39; paraclinics, $23; and other, $22. These values for kidney recipient were personnel, $331; drugs, $367; paraclinics, $278; accommodations, $475; and other, $222.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Compared with other countries, the kidney transplantation cost is low in Iran. The health system also pays for all the expenses. These, along with full medical insurance coverage of kidney recipients, make kidney transplantation available for every patient, regardless of the socioeconomic status due to its low cost. It is expected that a higher number of transplantation candidates with a low socioeconomic status will select transplantation.
authors.affiliation: Nephrology and Urology Research Center, Baqiyatallah Medical Sciences University, Tehran, Iran. noorbalam@gmail.com
authors.forename: M-H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Nourbala
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Einollahi
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kardavani
authors.forename: H-R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Khoddami-Vishte
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Assari
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mahdavi-Mazdeh
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Simforoosh
mesh_terms: D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D005249:Fees and Charges; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000191:economics; D007492:Iran; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000191:economics*; D014019:Tissue Donors
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents