Meerut Hospital under probe for alleged links to kidney transplant racket

Kanpur: The district health department in Meerut has started a separate investigation and issued a notice to a private
hospital located on Garh Road, seeking clarification over its alleged involvement in an illegal kidney transplant racket busted in Kanpur. Also Read:Kanpur Kidney Transplant Racket: Lookout notices issued for four doctors as probe expandsChief Medical Officer
Ashok Kataria on Wednesday issued a notice to the hospital’s management,
seeking clarification regarding its suspected connection and the possible role of
its medical staff in relation to the accused involved in the Kanpur transplant case.
The hospital has been asked to respond within three days, failing which authorities warned that failure to provide an explanation could result in
strict action, including cancellation of the hospital’s licence, sealing of the
facility, and other legal measures, reports The Daily.  

The hospital came under
the police radar when a team from the Medical College police station in Meerut paid
a visit to the private hospital on Wednesday evening. The team looked into
various details related to the hospital administration, including contact
numbers of the owner and manager, along with collecting information about the individuals
who have been mentioned in the FIR. Senior police officials confirmed that a police
team from Kanpur is likely to visit the facility in Meerut to work jointly with
the local police unit to carry on the investigation.    Medical
Dialogues had earlier reported that following a dispute over a mere Rs 50,000, a
massive illegal kidney transplant racket was uncovered in Kanpur, with five
doctors among six people arrested for their alleged involvement. The accused
are believed to have conducted illegal kidney transplants on at least 40
individuals, including foreign nationals. Police have issued lookout
notices for four key accused doctors and are expanding the investigation into a
suspected multi-city network, a senior official said on Wednesday.

During the probe, a
physiotherapist’s name allegedly came to light, and he has been identified as
the owner of the Meerut hospital. Police sources confirmed that when they were
conducting interrogation and document scrutiny in the Kanpur case, they came across
certain names, and the Meerut authority immediately launched their own investigation
to uncover the truth, and a notice has been issued to the hospital accordingly. Also Read:Kanpur: Doctor couple detained as illegal kidney transplant racket busted“The hospital
administration has been asked to clarify what connection the accused named in
the Kanpur case had with the private hospital. If no satisfactory response is
received within three days, action, including licence cancellation, will be
initiated. Arrangements are also being examined to shift admitted patients to
other hospitals if required,” Dr Kataria told Hindustan Times. Meerut SP City Ayush
Vikram Singh confirmed that the hospital is under investigation now. “Kanpur
police are investigating the Meerut private hospital angle. A police team from
Kanpur has left for Meerut and will be assisted by the local police team. At
present, the health department team is conducting its inquiry,” he said. 

Officials said
intelligence units are also actively trying to verify if the hospital premises,
staff or infrastructure have been involved in the alleged illegal transplant
network. The hospital management, on the other hand, has denied any such
allegation or any connection with the Kanpur kidney racket. The hospital manager
has ensured proper cooperation in the investigation.