Africa-Press – Mauritius. The Minister of Health and Wellness, Mr Anil Kumar Bachoo, visited the Renal Transplant Unit at the Victoria Hospital on Friday 05 December 2025, where he met with an international team of transplant specialists, Dr Sonal Asthana from India and Dr Suraj Sobnach and Dr Sharan Rambarran, both practising in South Africa. The team is currently in Mauritius to carry out a series of renal transplant surgeries.
Minister Bachoo expressed his appreciation to the visiting specialists for their continued support and for helping to strengthen the country’s specialised surgical services. Since the beginning of the year, more than 100 major procedures have been carried out with the collaboration of renowned foreign experts, including around 20 renal transplants, 30 cardiac surgeries, 10 ENT cancer operations, 10 cancer surgeries, and 10 vascular procedures.
During their current mission, the specialists are expected to complete three renal transplants adding up to six operations for donors and recipients. This follows an earlier visit during which they screened multiple patients and identified three compatible donor–recipient pairs. Overall, the team has assessed more than 20 cases in preparation for future transplant sessions. All procedures conducted by the visiting specialists in Mauritius are undertaken on a pro bono basis.
The visit also provided an opportunity to discuss national priorities for strengthening transplant and surgical services, the Minister said. Key areas include the establishment of a dedicated Liver Transplant Unit; expansion of the Deceased Donor Transplant Programme; development of a Paired Exchange Programme; and enhanced training opportunities for Mauritian surgeons to enable more patients to receive advanced treatment locally.
Minister Bachoo announced that open-heart surgeries will soon be introduced at Flacq Hospital. This initiative forms part of the Government’s broader strategy to expand specialised healthcare services and enhance national self-reliance in managing complex medical interventions, he said.
The specialists highlighted the growing number of young adults aged 20 to 40 suffering from renal failure, describing it as an area of concern. They also shared their optimism that, with continuous training, local surgeons will soon be able to independently perform complex transplant procedures. They expressed satisfaction in collaborating with Mauritian medical teams and reaffirmed their commitment to supporting patients in Mauritius.
