Payment for Kidneys

In this issue of CJASN , Dr. Ahad Ghods, along with Dr. Shekoufeh Savaj, presents the most comprehensive review to date of the Iranian model of kidney transplantation. It is an excellent report given by a colleague for whom we have high personal regard and with whom we have interacted at several international transplant meetings in recent years. His contribution to the Amsterdam Forum was substantial and well received. Nearly 20,000 kidney transplants have been performed in Iran since the inception of the program in 1988.The Iranian model is to be commended for its intent to provide care for the kidney vendor by lifelong health insurance, especially since 80% of the vendor population is categorized as poor. The Iranian system also provides an important example for the international transplant community to preclude the abuse of transplant tourism, which is now evident in many parts of the world.The report by Ghods and Savaj presents important data from the total Iranian experience. The widely known success of kidney transplantation has made it the preferred approach of renal replacement therapy for Iranian patients and for all …