Dhanalakshmi Srinivasan and Cethar Hospitals Face Permanent Ban
The Directorate of Medical and Rural Health Services has permanently revoked the kidney transplant licences of Dhanalakshmi Srinivasan Medical College Hospital in Perambalur and Cethar Hospitals in Trichy after uncovering their involvement in an illegal kidney transplant racket. Both hospitals were found to have violated the Transplantation of Human Organs Act, 1994, by submitting forged documents to government committees for transplant approvals.
Inquiry Confirms Use of Brokers and Fake Donor Records
An inquiry led by S Vineeth, Project Director of the Tamil Nadu Urban Health Care Project, revealed that unrelated living donors were procured through brokers, identified as Anandan and Stanley Mohan, for monetary gain. Several hospital staff members, including transplant coordinators, allegedly prepared fraudulent documents to present donors as relatives, facilitating illegal surgeries.
Targeting Vulnerable Individuals for Profit
Investigations showed that brokers targeted poor textile workers, lured them into selling their kidneys for amounts ranging from ₹5 to ₹10 lakh, and arranged surgeries at the two hospitals. Donors were admitted under false identities, kept for a week, and paid after the transplant to help them repay debts.
Reforms and Stricter Monitoring Proposed
The inquiry committee recommended overhauling the four district-level organ transplant approval committees in Chennai, Madurai, Coimbatore, and Dharmapuri, and creating a State-level committee for oversight. Suggested measures include:
- Mandatory video recording of donor–recipient interviews
- Retention of medico-legal records for 10 years
- Providing forms in Tamil and English
- Displaying warnings in hospitals against monetary donations, along with complaint contact details
Government Moves to Implement Safeguards
The Tamil Nadu government has accepted the recommendations, directing the Directorate of Medical Education to streamline accreditation procedures and ensure pre-approval medical and legal counselling for donors and recipients. Periodic inspections of licensed transplant facilities will be conducted, and district administrations will run continuous awareness campaigns against illegal organ trade.
