CS Duale's move to probe organ trafficking is a welcome

Following the Mediheal organ trafficking allegations, the Cabinet Secretary for Health has appointed a committee to investigate the matter. In a gazette notice dated April 23, CS Aden Duale designated Prof. Elizabeth Bukusi to lead the 13-member probe team.

The Prof. Bukusi-led committee will be tasked with thoroughly probing the claims and assessing compliance across all health facilities offering transplant services in the country. As part of its mandate, the committee will investigate the legal and regulatory framework governing tissue and organ transplants-examining compliance levels in all facilities providing such services in Kenya.

Health CS Aden Duale in a previous meeting.
Photo | Courtesy

These developments come in the wake of a recent exposé by the German news outlet, Deutsche Welle (DW). Reports claim that the Eldoret-based institution has been harvesting kidneys from vulnerable Kenyans for Ksh.294,000 and selling them abroad for as much as Ksh.3.2 million.

Probing Kenya’s hospitals’ adherence to ethical and legal transplant protocols will also be a key role played by the team in safeguarding this critical sector. Organ harvesting is a sensitive venture that many unscrupulous characters may use as an avenue to exploit the vulnerable.

It is estimated that up to 10% of kidney transplants worldwide involve organ trafficking. According to the Global Observatory on Donation and Transplantation, 2020. “More than 150,000 transplants are performed annually worldwide, however, this is less than 10% of the global need.”

The decision to take a closer look at the issue is commendable from the Ministry of Health, as without proper systems in place, some hospitals may take advantage of the vulnerable while they benefit in a massive way.

Even as the Mediheal group dismiss the allegations, organ harvesting remains a critical yet significant activity in the act of giving hope to patients. However, there needs to be measures put in place to address the gaps that may be exploited by selfish individuals.