Kidney transplant fiasco: Duale to appear before MPs

Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale/FILE

Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale will appear before the Departmental Committee on Health to give his submissions in the ongoing inquiry into unethical kidney transplants.

Duale will give his submission on allegations of malpractice and ethical breaches in kidney transplant services at Mediheal Group of Hospitals.

He will appear before the James Nyikal (Seme)-led committee at 9.30 am, Parliament Buildings.

On April 17, Duale announced the appointment of a team to undertake a comprehensive audit of all kidney transplant services at the Mediheal Group of Hospitals in the last five years.

The Independent Expert Committee comprises experts from public and private health facilities, professional associations, and relevant regulatory bodies.

The team’s focus is on governance, clinical practices, ethical compliance, and patient safety protocols.

“The committee will be expected to submit its report within 90 days from the date of appointment,” he stated.

The probe follows an investigative report by German broadcaster Deutsche Welle (DW), which alleged that Mediheal Group of Hospitals is involved in a global organ trafficking syndicate.

The hospital’s Group Vice President in charge of operations, Maryline Limo, however, denied the claims, insisting that they follow all legal and ethical guidelines, as per industry standards, which prohibit the commercial sale of organs

“Mediheal wishes to categorically state that the facility strictly adheres to the legal guidelines and the procedure of the hospital,” said Limo on Spice FM on Wednesday, April 16.

The inquiry by the House committee aims to examine the legality, ethical compliance, and oversight of kidney transplant services at the facility.

The committee will recommend necessary legal or policy reforms to safeguard the integrity of the country’s healthcare system.

The committee will also investigate the role of foreign nationals, both as transplant recipients and as part of the hospital’s medical team.

Mediheal Group of Hospitals, one of East Africa’s leading private healthcare providers, has been offering organ transplant services for over a decade.