Mediheal Group of Hospitals, headquartered in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County, has strongly refuted allegations linking it to illegal organ trafficking, particularly concerning kidney transplant procedures.
Speaking through its legal team, the hospital maintained its innocence, emphasizing its commitment to ethical and professional standards in medical care.
Hospital’s Defense Against Allegations
Addressing the media, Senior Counsel Katwa Kigen, representing Mediheal, described the claims of organ trafficking as “unfounded, misleading, and damaging.”
He stressed that Mediheal operates fully within the confines of both Kenyan and international medical laws, providing specialized surgical services including kidney transplants, open-heart surgery, and neuro-spinal operations.
“We are not involved in any organ trafficking or any criminal enterprise related to kidney transplants,” Kigen stated. “Our role is purely to provide high-quality medical services to patients who present themselves for care.”
Kigen explained that the hospital does not play any role in the process by which recipients and donors meet or arrange transplant agreements.
Mediheal’s involvement, he said, is limited to offering medical procedures once the necessary consent and documentation from patients and their donors are in place. The hospital, he emphasized, only charges for its medical services.
Commitment to Transparency and Cooperation
In response to public concerns, Mediheal’s legal counsel assured full cooperation with relevant authorities, including law enforcement, medical regulatory boards, and transplant oversight committees.
“We are ready and willing to provide any required information, within the legal framework of doctor-patient confidentiality and data protection laws,” Kigen said.
He dismissed as baseless claims that Mediheal lacks proper documentation and records for its transplant operations, asserting that the hospital meticulously maintains patient data and transplant records. Furthermore, he invited any authorized institution to audit Mediheal’s practices.
“There is no hidden operation at Mediheal. Every case undergoes thorough vetting,” he added, explaining that patients typically arrive through three channels: referrals from other doctors (which are independently verified), direct family consultation, or diagnosis at Mediheal itself through internal medical examination.
Reassurance on Foreign Patients and Ethical Standards
Addressing allegations regarding foreign recipients obtaining organs from Kenyan donors, Kigen clarified that there has never been a case where a non-African received a kidney from a Kenyan donor at Mediheal.
“All transplant activities are audited and supervised by quality assurance bodies and tissue transplant authorities,” he noted.
The hospital emphasized that its transplant surgeries utilize advanced laparoscopic technologies, ensuring minimal surgical invasiveness and quicker recovery times, in line with international best practices.
Hospital Founder Defends Mediheal’s Record
Dr. Swarup Mishra, founder of Mediheal Group of Hospitals, echoed the hospital’s defense, highlighting its dedication to providing world-class, affordable healthcare.
“Our mission has always been to make high-quality specialized care accessible to all, especially considering the socio-economic realities of Africa,” Dr. Mishra stated.
He noted that Mediheal’s competitive pricing has attracted international patients from countries such as Israel, Germany, the United States, and Somalia, positioning Kenya as a hub for affordable, quality healthcare.
Since obtaining its license in 2018, Mediheal has conducted 476 kidney transplants, Dr. Mishra revealed. He said the hospital’s mortality rate for transplants stands at less than two percent, a figure lower than global averages.
“We have experienced only 10 mortalities over six years, primarily due to unrelated post-operative complications such as severe allergic reactions to anesthesia. We are proud of our safety record,” he said.
Dr. Mishra called for patience as the official inquiry into the organ trafficking allegations continues, assuring that the hospital would fully comply with investigators and that the truth would prevail once the findings are released.
Impact of Allegations on Hospital Operations
Meanwhile, Maryline Limo, Mediheal’s Vice President of Operations, decried the substantial impact the allegations have had on the hospital’s activities.
She reported a drastic decline in patient numbers, severely affecting operations and leading to the loss of over 2,000 jobs.
“Our public image has been unfairly tarnished, and the livelihoods of thousands of our employees and their families have been affected,” Limo said. “We urge for fairness and objectivity as the investigation unfolds.”
What’s Next?
As Mediheal Group faces mounting public scrutiny, its leadership continues to insist on its innocence and adherence to ethical medical practice.
While the government inquiry remains underway, the case highlights broader challenges facing Kenya’s healthcare sector, where allegations of malpractice, if unaddressed, could undermine hard-won gains in international medical tourism and public trust.
The final outcome of the investigation will likely determine not only the fate of Mediheal but also set important precedents for regulation and accountability in the country’s healthcare industry.
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