Health officials looked into possible organ trafficking after concerns about Israeli patients receiving kidney transplants in Kenya. The investigation came after an international medical group warned that people might be breaking medical rules. Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale formed a team of experts to examine these claims at an Eldoret hospital last December.
The hospital had legal permission for kidney transplants. It performed 372 procedures over five years, mostly for Kenyan patients but also for people from Israel, America, and Britain. Investigators found consent forms for all donations but noticed several problems. They discovered unclear relationships between donors and recipients. Some medical tests happened in India without proper approval from Kenyan authorities.
The team spotted other issues during their review. Many documents lacked translations for non-English speakers. Several patients faced high health risks because they were very young or elderly. Doctors sometimes proceeded with transplants despite poor donor-recipient matches. Hospital staff skipped required meetings and failed to maintain important health records.
Experts recommended creating national standards to prevent organ trafficking. They suggested better verification of donor-recipient connections. The team advised setting up a central registry for all transplant services throughout Kenya. They emphasized that independent medical professionals should review every transplant case before approval.
The hospital had legal permission for kidney transplants. It performed 372 procedures over five years, mostly for Kenyan patients but also for people from Israel, America, and Britain. Investigators found consent forms for all donations but noticed several problems. They discovered unclear relationships between donors and recipients. Some medical tests happened in India without proper approval from Kenyan authorities.
The team spotted other issues during their review. Many documents lacked translations for non-English speakers. Several patients faced high health risks because they were very young or elderly. Doctors sometimes proceeded with transplants despite poor donor-recipient matches. Hospital staff skipped required meetings and failed to maintain important health records.
Experts recommended creating national standards to prevent organ trafficking. They suggested better verification of donor-recipient connections. The team advised setting up a central registry for all transplant services throughout Kenya. They emphasized that independent medical professionals should review every transplant case before approval.
