CHENNAI, Tamil Nadu – The Tamil Nadu health department has temporarily suspended the kidney transplant licences of two private hospitals—Dhanalakshmi Srinivasan Institute of Medical Sciences and Hospital in Perambalur and Cethar Hospital in Trichy—following an internal inquiry into complaints alleging the existence of a widespread illegal kidney trade racket. Officials aware of the matter confirmed the suspensions on Thursday.
The preliminary investigation was conducted by S. Vineeth, director of the Tamil Nadu Health Systems Reform Project (TNHSRP). Officials added that a further, more extensive investigation is currently underway, prompted by “several statements circulated online by alleged kidney donors.”
The probe committee, headed by Vineeth, included Dr. R.M. Meenakshisundari, joint director (Legal) of the Directorate of Medical and Rural Health Services; Dr. A. Rajmohan, joint director of health services, Namakkal; and Dr. K. Marimuthu, joint director of health services for Perambalur and Ariyalur.
A statement from the health department confirmed the action: “Based on the interim report filed by Dr. Vineeth, the Directorate of Medical and Rural Health Services (DMS) invoked Section 16 (2) of the Transplantation of Human Organs Act, 1994, and ordered the temporary suspension of kidney transplant licences given to both hospitals.”
Tamil Nadu Health Minister M. Subramanian had initiated the inquiry into the suspected kidney trafficking racket in Namakkal district on July 18. On the same day, a police complaint was filed against an individual identified as M. Anandan, who is suspected of brokering illegal kidney donations from impoverished laborers working in power loom units and dyeing mills in Pallipalayam over the last six months.
Organ donations in Tamil Nadu are regulated by the Transplant Authority of Tamil Nadu (TRANSTAN), which operates under India’s Transplantation of Human Organs Act, 1994. Minister Subramanian reiterated the strict legal framework last Friday, stating, “Only voluntary organ donation is permissible. Any selling of any organs is a serious crime. Anyone found involved in such crime will face action.”
As of now, the probe has not yet revealed the full extent of those involved and complicit in the alleged crime, nor has it determined the precise amounts of money purportedly given to the workers, according to the officials quoted. The ongoing investigation is expected to shed more light on the scale and network of the suspected illegal kidney trade.