Unmet need for heart transplantation in Africa

Abstract

Heart transplantation is a critical treatment option for end-stage heart failure patients, offering a lifeline for those with severe cardiac conditions. However, in Africa, the unmet need for heart transplantation is a significant issue that poses challenges to the healthcare system and patient outcomes. Africa faces multiple barriers to heart transplantation, including limited infrastructure, a shortage of skilled healthcare professionals, a lack of funding, and inadequate organ donation systems. These challenges result in a considerable gap between the demand for heart transplants and the available resources to meet this need. As a result, many patients in Africa do not have access to life-saving heart transplantation procedures, leading to high mortality rates among those awaiting transplants. Addressing the unmet need for heart transplantation in Africa requires a multifaceted approach. The authors recommend that Africa as a continent build up a heart transplantation workforce involving a multidisciplinary team that consists of transplant surgeons, transplant physicians, nurses, anesthetists, pharmacists, etc. Heart transplant education and training programs should be well-constructed to ensure the delivery of safe and effective transplantation services. International collaborations have proven to be effective and should be encouraged between African institutions and transplant centers worldwide to facilitate knowledge transfer. Foreign and local organizations should promote public awareness about organ donation to address the myths about heart transplantation and promote heart donation. With these, African countries can improve access to heart transplantation, enhance patient outcomes, save lives in the region, and ultimately reduce the mortality rate in Africa.