AAR Hospital banks on new steam prostate procedure to slash medical costs

 

AAR Hospital has performed Kenya's first Rezum water vapour therapy procedure for enlarged prostate, a development that could help curb the billions of shillings Kenyans spend annually on overseas treatment and ease the financial burden on households grappling with soaring healthcare costs.

The minimally invasive procedure, which uses steam to destroy excess prostate tissue without surgical cuts, was carried out on an undisclosed patient at the Nairobi-based hospital.

It offers an alternative to conventional prostate surgery and allows suitable patients to return home the same day.

The milestone comes as healthcare costs continue to hit Kenyans hard.

More than 10,000 Kenyans travel abroad each year for specialised medical treatment, spending an estimated Sh10 billion annually, according to Health Ministry data.

Treatment abroad averages around Sh1.5 million per patient, placing a heavy financial burden on families and insurers.