Mediheal Hospital denies kidney trafficking allegations amid investigations

KENYA—The Mediheal Group of Hospitals in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County, has strongly denied allegations of involvement in kidney trafficking, following heightened scrutiny from both the public and government authorities.

These denials come amid ongoing investigations and growing concern over the integrity of organ transplant procedures at the facility.

This comes a day after Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale established an independent committee to review the governance, ethical, legal, and clinical practices surrounding tissue and organ transplants in all Kenyan health facilities.

The committee, chaired by Prof. Elizabeth Bukusi and comprising several medical and legal experts, is tasked with thoroughly assessing the situation and making recommendations to safeguard ethical standards in the sector.

Through its legal team, led by Senior Counsel Katwa Kigen, Mediheal has dismissed the trafficking claims as baseless and lacking factual support.

The hospital emphasised that it provides kidney transplants and other advanced surgeries, such as open-heart and neurospinal procedures, strictly adhering to international ethical and professional standards.

Kigen clarified that Mediheal’s role is limited to delivering medical services for transplants and that the hospital is not involved in how donors and recipients are matched.

He further stated that the only payments received are service charges for the procedures, and the hospital is fully prepared to cooperate with authorities and provide information within the bounds of doctor-patient confidentiality and data protection laws.

Mediheal’s administration has also addressed concerns about transparency, stating that all patient records and data on kidney transplants are available and open to scrutiny by public agencies and regulatory bodies.

According to Kigen, there is no secretive activity related to organ trafficking at the hospital.

Patients typically arrive either through doctor referrals, family recommendations, or after being independently assessed as needing a transplant.

The hospital insists that all procedures are conducted with proper documentation and oversight.

Dr. Swarup Mishra, the hospital’s founder, highlighted Mediheal’s commitment to providing affordable, high-quality healthcare and noted that the hospital attracts international patients due to its competitive pricing and advanced medical technology.

He reported that since 2018, Mediheal has performed 476 kidney transplants, with a mortality rate of less than two per cent, lower than global averages.

Dr. Mishra stressed that all transplants are conducted ethically, with informed consent from both donors and their next of kin, and that the hospital has never been implicated in transplant fraud.

Despite these assurances, the hospital has faced significant operational challenges as a result of the allegations.

Vice President of Operations Maryline Limo reported a drastic decline in patient numbers and over 2,000 job losses due to the damaged public image.

Meanwhile, investigations by government agencies, including the Directorate of Criminal Investigations and parliamentary committees, are ongoing.

These inquiries aim to determine whether Mediheal’s transplant procedures complied with Kenyan law and ethical standards, especially regarding the relationships between donors and recipients, as well as the participation of foreign nationals in transplant operations.

 The Ministry of Health has also noted that the hospital failed to provide sufficient documentation to confirm the legitimacy of some donor-recipient relationships, especially those involving foreign patients.

Sign up HERE to receive our email newsletters with the latest news and insights from Africa and beyond. Also, follow us on our WhatsApp channel for updates.