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- What is Kidney Transplant?
What is Kidney Transplant?
Kidney transplant or renal transplant is the process where a kidney is surgically removed from a donor and implanted into the patient. The patient may receive a kidney from a family member, a spouse or a close friend. They are known as living-related donors. In addition, the patient can also receive a kidney from a recently deceased person, known as a cadaveric donor or deceased-donor. Transplant is by far the best means of treatment, as the “replacement kidney” can substitute almost fully the lost functions of the failed kidneys, and allow the patient to lead a normal life.

Frequently Asked Questions
Living donor kidney transplant is when one’s living relatives or close friends whose kidneys are compatible donate to the recipient without any money exchanging hands.
The patient may receive a kidney from a family member, a spouse or a close friend. They are known as living-related donors. The most compatible match is usually a sibling, as their genetic make-up may closely match. Living-donor renal transplants are further characterised as genetically related (living-related) or non-related (living-unrelated) transplants, depending on whether a biological relationship exists between the donor and recipient.
For more information on National Organ Donation and Transplant, please visit MOH website.
- Shorter waiting time for a kidney compared to waiting for a kidney from a cadaveric donor
- Better survival outcomes
The average waiting time for kidney transplant is 9 years. To date, there are more than 250 individuals on the waiting list for cadaver renal transplant.
Yes. Transplant is by far the best means of treatment, as the “replacement kidney” can substitute almost fully the lost functions of the failed kidneys, and allow the patient to lead a normal life.
NKF’s “Kidney Live Donor Support Fund” help kidney donors in covering their pre-transplant screening and evaluation costs, post-operation annual medical check-up costs, loss of income, insurance premiums and insurance coverage. For more information, please click here to learn more about the Kidney Live Donor Support Fund.
You may wish to contact the National Organ Transplant Unit in Singapore at (65) 6321 4390 or email to organ.transplant@notu.com.sg. The Unit may be able to assist you with any further information you may need on transplant in Singapore. For more information on organ transplant, please log on to www.moh.gov.sg.
Please note that under Singapore Law, the selling and buying of organs are illegal.