Saskatchewan is getting a second kidney transplant surgeon to a program that has been in limbo for the past three years because of staffing issues.

During that time, about 72 per cent of Saskatchewan's kidney transplants were done out of province.

Dr. Yigang Luo is making the move here from Ontario.

"I'm very lucky to have this chance to contribute," he said.

"I think this transplant program is very important to the province, otherwise many patients have transfer out of the province."

Luo is joining Dr. Mike Moser, who started last year.

Dr. Ahmed Shoker is the medial director of the Saskatchewan Provincial Transplant Program and a professor of medicine at the University of Saskatchewan.

He told John Gormley Live on Friday that the waiting list depends on kidney donors.

"That is an international problem. The number of people requiring organs - kidney and other organs - are usually much more than their available organs," he said.

Right now, there are 70 people on the waiting list.

kyeske@rawlco.com

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