Mediheal Group of Hospitals has defended its kidney transplant program, insisting that all procedures conducted between 2018 and 2022 were ethical, safe, and adhered to global medical standards. The facility reported performing over 300 transplants during this period.
Addressing Members of Parliament probing alleged illegal transplants, the group’s chief consultant, Dr. Srinivas Murthy, emphasized that every case undergoes rigorous ethical and medical evaluation before surgery. “My medical evaluation ends where the ethical and administrative evaluation begins,” Dr. Murthy said, highlighting that all procedures are cleared by the hospital’s ethics and transplant committee.
Dr. Murthy explained that kidney recipients are closely monitored post-surgery, with comprehensive patient databases tracking outcomes. “Even when I travel, I can access their data and communicate with nephrologists across Kenya and abroad,” he noted.
The transplant process starts with determining the cause of kidney failure in patients. Family donors, such as parents, siblings, or children, are prioritized to reduce the risk of rejection. If unavailable, extended relatives or friends may be considered, but donors undergo thorough physical and psychological assessments. “We never compromise donor safety. Even a willing mother must have at least 80% kidney function before donation,” said Dr. Murthy.
Advanced genetic testing, including next-generation sequencing, is used to ensure donor-recipient compatibility, supplemented by cross-matching tests and comprehensive cardiac and metabolic screening. Hospital stays typically last 5 days for donors and 7–10 days for recipients, with follow-up continuing indefinitely due to lifelong immunosuppressive therapy.
Mediheal appealed to MPs to strengthen Kenya’s legal framework on organ donation to protect patients and donors. In response, a Transplant and Organ Donation Bill is under review by the Budget and Appropriations Committee.
Kitutu Chache South MP Anthony Kibagendi highlighted the need for clearer laws on organ donation, particularly regarding deceased donors, stressing the importance of legal guidance to safeguard both patients and donors.
With these measures, Mediheal maintains that its kidney transplant program remains ethical, transparent, and aligned with international best practices.
