Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has constituted a committee that will probe allegations of organ trafficking at Mediheal Group of Hospitals.
In a gazette notice, Duale named Professor Elizabeth Bukusi as the chairperson of the 13-member committee.
The secretariat will comprise Stella Kanja, Rueben Tulei, and Jedidah Effie Oduor.
The committee will seek to establish the existing legal and regulatory framework governing the tissue and organ transplant services in Kenya and to conduct an in-depth independent investigation into any non-compliant tissue and organ transplant services within health facilities in Kenya, including in Mediheal Group of Hospitals.
It will also “review the existing policy, legal and institutional framework, standards, guidelines, and protocols that govern organ and tissue transplant services in Kenya and identify any existing gaps in the framework.
It will further evaluate governance and operating procedures, including transplant protocols, ethics reviews, and post-transplant monitoring, and identify any existing weaknesses and gaps.
The team will investigate and establish Mediheal’s adherence to the existing policy and legal framework, including standards, guidelines, and protocols on transplant services.
The probe follows an investigative report by German broadcaster Deutsche Welle (DW), which alleged that Mediheal Group of Hospitals in involved in a global organ trafficking syndicate.
The hospital’s Group Vice President in charge of operations, Maryline Limo, soon after denied the claims, insisting that they follow all legal and ethical guidelines, as per industry standards, which prohibit the commercial sale of organs.
And on Wednesday, Mediheal founder Swarup Mishra said allegations against his facilities are false and baseless.
“These claims are entirely unfounded and are not supported by any credible evidence.
We remain committed to delivering ethical, safe, and world-class healthcare to our patients and reaffirm our unwavering dedication to medical integrity,” he stated.
The National Assembly’s Departmental Committee on Health has also launched a public inquiry into the allegations.
