Report on kidney racket probe handed over to Rajitha

The report by a three-member committee on the kidney racket allegedly involving six doctors in Sri Lanka was handed over to Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne yesterday.

The report looks into the alleged involvement of the doctors accused by the Indian police over the racket, the Health Ministry said.

The Health Ministry said that the police is already conducting a separate investigation with the assistance of INTERPOL.

Minister Rajitha Senaratne is to study the report and the recommendations in it and take appropriate action once the police has completed its investigation.

The Health Ministry last month temporarily suspended kidney transplants for foreigners at government and private hospitals after the racket in India was linked to six local doctors.

Health Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne had ordered a full investigation into claims by the Indian police that the doctors attached to some private hospitals had conducted kidney transplants for Indians who were involved in a major kidney racket.

Senaratne also instructed the three-member committee to investigate allegations that a Health Ministry official was involved in the international racket.

The Indian police had filed cases against six Sri Lankan doctors in relation to the kidney racket on the charge of conducting paid kidney transplants in violation of ethics. (Colombo Gazette)