Health Ministry’s Transplant Body Launches Probe Into Cash-for-Kidney Scam Against Apollo Hospitals

The National Organ and Tissue Transplantation Organisation under the Health Ministry has launched an investigation into accusations of a cash-for-kidney scandal involving Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, News18 has learnt. The report published on December 3 alleged that “young villagers from Myanmar are flown to Apollo’s esteemed Delhi hospital, receiving compensation for donating their kidneys to affluent Burmese recipients”. Summary of the published report The report emphasises the law where “paying for organs is illegal in India, as it is across most of the world…” However, a Telegraph investigation has revealed that desperate young villagers from Myanmar are being flown to Apollo’s prestigious Delhi hospital and paid to donate their kidneys to rich Burmese patients. “According to the figures, the majority of these operations were conducted in India, which has long had a problem with organ trafficking.” “Experts say the illegal trade is channelled through the nation’s booming private healthcare industry, in which Apollo Hospitals is a major player.” Apollo’s explanation According to the official statement, IMCL requires every donor to provide Form 21 notarised by the appropriate ministry in their country. The patients and donors undergo several medical tests, including genetic testing.” “These and many more steps far exceed any compliance requirements for a transplant procedure and ensure that donor and recipient are indeed related as per applicable laws.