Mediheal hands over 382 kidney transplant files to DCI as probe deepens

Mediheal Hospital has submitted hundreds of kidney transplant documents to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations as part of an ongoing probe into alleged malpractice and organ trafficking at the facility.

The hospital’s lawyers Katwa Kigen and Conrad Maloba delivered the documents on Wednesday to officers from the Transnational Organized Crime Unit at the DCI headquarters.

According to Maloba, the submission followed a summons from the DCI and required a court order due to patient-doctor confidentiality.

"We have just delivered the files, our SOPs, patients' records,  about 382 files of patients and donors," Maloba said.

He added that the court will now guide the DCI on how to handle the sensitive records and what can be presented in court. Mediheal's owner, Swarup Mishra, was not present during the submission.

Maloba said the Transnational Organized Crime Unit is reviewing the hospital’s transplant procedures, medical processes, and related records.

The investigation follows a directive by Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale, who ordered a full audit of the hospital’s kidney transplant services on April 17.

Duale appointed a 13-member expert committee to review Mediheal’s operations over the last five years and submit a report within three months.

Despite the mounting scrutiny, Mediheal continues to deny any wrongdoing.

Mishra earlier dismissed the allegations as baseless and maintained that the hospital does not engage in illegal activity.

"We are not involved in any trafficking, we are not involved in any syndicate, and we are not involved in any criminal enterprise related to any issue of kidney transplants," said Mediheal lawyer Katwa Kigen.

The hospital also challenged the findings of a 2023 probe that raised questions about cross-border donor-recipient matches.

Kigen insisted that donors had legally consented to the procedures and were aware of their rights, including the option to withdraw at any point.

"In the affidavits to the donors, we have made sure that they confirm that they have understood the legal provision that exists in relation to donation," said Kigen.

Mishra defended the hospital’s methods, especially regarding HLA mismatch concerns.

"We did the level four—that is not only cross-matching, HLA matching, but genetic mapping, so gene-to-gene, so reaction is zero," he said.

Kigen added that no post-surgery complications had been reported by either donors or recipients.

Mediheal charges between Sh3.2 million and Sh4.5 million for kidney transplants, but denies paying any donor for their organs.

"We have no cases reported to us of any complications either in terms of the donors or recipients," said Kigen.

As the inquiry intensifies, families in Uasin Gishu and beyond await clarity on what really took place within Mediheal’s operating rooms.