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The Health Ministry’s National Organ and Tissue Transplantation Organisation (NOTTO) has initiated a probe into allegations of a cash-for-kidney scandal involving Indraprastha Apollo Hospital. The investigation follows claims made in The Telegraph, a UK newspaper, suggesting that the hospital is involved in an illegal scheme that lures individuals from Myanmar to sell their organs for monetary purposes.
According to the report, young villagers from Myanmar are allegedly being transported to the Delhi branch of Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, where they are encouraged to sell their kidneys to affluent Burmese patients.
The report, which relied on discussions between an undercover journalist and agents as well as Apollo officials in Myanmar, stated that Apollo Hospitals expressed utter astonishment at the newspaper’s revelations and declared its intent to conduct an internal inquiry.
The report cited Apollo denying any deliberate involvement or tacit approval of illegal activities related to organ transplants. According to NOTTO Director Anil Kumar, a thorough investigation and substantial evidence are necessary before determining the subsequent steps in addressing this issue. Delhi Health Secretary S B Deepak Kumar informed that the city has launched an inquiry in response to a directive from the central government.
In response to the accusations, the hospital issued a statement categorizing them as “false.” The statement emphasized the group’s adherence to all legal and ethical standards governing transplant procedures, including government guidelines and internal processes that surpass compliance requirements.
Furthermore, the hospital clarified that it mandates every donor to submit Form 21, duly notarized by the relevant ministry in their country. This form serves as certification from the foreign government confirming the relationship between the donor and recipient.
The government-appointed transplant authorization committee at IMCL thoroughly examines documents for each case, including this certification, and conducts interviews with both the donor and recipient. Additionally, the statement highlighted the re-validation of documents with the concerned embassy of the respective country.
IMCL, which stands for Indraprastha Medical Corporation Ltd, operates as a collaborative effort between Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Ltd (AHEL) and the Delhi government.
The hospital further explained that both patients and donors undergo numerous medical examinations, including genetic testing. These thorough measures, exceeding standard compliance requirements for transplant procedures, aim to confirm the relationship between the donor and recipient as per relevant laws.