Kidney racket: Hospital asks govt to allow organ transplant

MUMBAI: Under the police scanner for an alleged kidney transplant case, Dr LH Hiranandani Hospital has approached the state government to revoke its suspension orders

MUMBAI: Under the police scanner for an alleged kidney transplant case, Dr LH Hiranandani Hospital has approached the state government to revoke its suspension orders to conduct organ transplant.

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The Powai-based hospital has transferred patients awaiting a transplant to other hospitals.

Two days after the kidney racket came to light, Directorate of Health Services (DHS) authorities suspended the organ licence of the hospital on July 16. DHS also appointed a three-member committee to inspect and submit a report to take the final call on the suspension. Sources said the report was submitted to DHS on Monday.

Acting on a tip-off by activist Mahesh Tanna, the Powai police halted the kidney transplant at the hospital on July 14. Surat-based businessman Brijkishore Jaiswal, 48, the ‘recipient’, was supposed to receive a kidney from the ‘donor’, Shobha Thakur, 42, from a Gujarat village. The documents were forged to show both of them as couple by four touts, led by Bhijendra Bisen. The police have arrested eight people, including a transplant coordinator from the hospital.

Dr Jadhav remained unavailable for a comment despite numerous attempts. A member from the DHS committee said the suspension is unlikely to be revoked since the incident took place inside the hospital.

“We cannot reveal the contents of the report, but we have inspected all the necessary documents, video footage and probed the concerned officials. The chances are slim,” the member said.