Association Urges Subsidised Knee Replacement Surgeries, Implants

Nigerian Orthopedic Association has called for subsidised knee surgeries and implants for indigent patients.

The association made the call yesterday at its 46th Scientific Meeting and AGM pre-conference workshop on Arthroplasty, in Abuja.

The chairman of the Local Organising Committee of the 2023 conference, Dr Songden David, who spoke at the event, emphasised the need for subsidised knee replacement surgeries and implants, as many indigent patients are unable to meet up with the cost.

He said it cost about N2million to carry out a knee replacement surgery and implant, adding that “If the government is able to subsidise the cost of implants, then many patients will be able to pay and have their surgeries done and then well-meaning individuals can also come in and sponsor the surgery for some of these patients.”

David also disclosed that as part of its pre-conference activities, the association in partnership with implant companies have decided to conduct free surgeries for at least eight indigent patients whose conditions require more than just medical treatments, with at least four surgeries already conducted so far in the pre-conference.

“We decided to do a kind of a mini outreach where we offered free surgeries for a few indigent patients. In all, we are offering about eight total knee replacements,” he said.

“Knee replacement is done for people who have arthritis of the knee where the cartilage is completely gone. They cannot walk without pain, and it becomes almost impossible for them to use their knee. At that point, we call it end-stage arthritis. At that point, surgery is the best procedure to do for them. But the cost is prohibitive for most of our patients. So, we decided that some of those who could not afford it, we were able to arrange on our own together with our implant suppliers to supply these things free.

“While we contribute to pay for the drugs and other things to ensure that we’re able to do this free, the hospitals also subsidized some; they waived the bills of their surgeries and consumables for us. So, it’s a joint effort,” he explained.

On his part, representative of Meril Life Science Private Limited, Hemal Barot, stated that the organisation chose to support the association with free implants because it believes in passing on orthopedic knowledge.

“Just to pass on this skill, we invited a doctor from India, Dr Vividh Makwana. He has experience of over 8000 joints replacement that he has done in his career, he is the one doing the surgeries and at the same time he is sharing his knowledge with the local orthopedic surgeon in Nigeria.

“This is the way you can exchange knowledge and idea”, Barot added.

A beneficiary of the free surgery outreach, Mrs Josephine Odoh, thanked the association and its partners for the initiative.