Kenya organ transplant scandal: Committee probes Mediheal Hospital over alleged malpractices

The independent committee investigating Kenya’s organ transplant services has started a three-day fact-finding mission in Uasin Gishu County, where Mediheal Hospital is under scrutiny over alleged malpractices.

Public hearings began on Monday at the Eldoret West Market Social Hall, with the committee inviting residents to share their experiences and concerns about transplant services in the region.

The team is focusing more time on the county due to reports linking local facilities to suspected cases of organ and tissue trafficking.

The committee, appointed by Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale, is tasked with reviewing the country’s legal and regulatory framework on tissue and organ transplants.

It is also expected to investigate facilities suspected of non-compliant practices, and assess the state of governance, ethics, clinical standards and legality of transplant procedures in Kenya.

Committee Chairperson Elizabeth Bukusi said Uasin Gishu was allocated four days due to the weight of allegations originating from the area.

“Some of the allegations that could be inappropriate practices started here, and the individuals who came up to speak about the possibility that services that were procured might not have been appropriate were here in Uasin Gishu. That is why we are giving a lot of time to this particular county,” Bukusi said.

Thorough data collection

She said the extended stay in the region is to ensure thorough data collection.

“We are available for anybody who wants to speak to us in public and in private. We have provided a telephone number and email address that they can use to contact us so that we can make appropriate facilities for anyone to come and speak to us,” Bukusi added.

Mediheal Group of Hospitals, which has been linked to the scandal, said it is ready to cooperate with the investigators.

“Mediheal turned up to confirm their preparedness to cooperate with the committee, to avail all the materials the committee may require to satisfy itself on the properties in the transplants that were done by Mediheal,” said Katwa Kigen, the hospital’s lawyer.

Willingness to cooperate

“We had already submitted our documents and position as Mediheal, specifically as concerns the issue of kidney transplants, and today we have also appeared to show our willingness to cooperate fully on this matter,” he added.

Bukusi said the committee is not only reviewing individual facilities, but also seeking to establish whether the services offered across the country meet proper standards.

Other Topics To Read

• Health
• Uasin Gishu
• organ trafficking
• Katwa Kigen
• Mediheal Hospital
• Mediheal Group of Hospitals
• organ transplant scandal
• kidney organ transplant scandal
• tissue and organ transplants
• Elizabeth Bukusi
• Kenya organ transplant scandal: Committee probes Mediheal Hospital over alleged malpractices
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“The committee will look into the question of regulations and policies that enable the services offered appropriately in the country,” she said.

She also clarified that the committee is independent, and its work is separate from a similar investigation being carried out by Parliament.

“There has been a process of drafting the law that will be able to regulate tissue transplant blood. It has not yet become law, it is still a work in progress,” she noted.

The committee held its first sitting in Vihiga County last week and is expected to visit Bomet, Meru, Kisii, Nakuru, Kisumu, Nairobi and Mombasa. Nairobi has been allocated two days, while the other counties will have one-day hearings.

The committee is expected to submit its final report to the Health Cabinet Secretary by July 22.