Kidney transplant surgeries for foreign nationals in government and private hospitals in Sri Lanka have been temporarily suspended, the Ministry of Health said.
The step was taken based on the instructions of Minister of Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine Dr Rajitha Senaratne, a statement said
Indian Police yesterday revealed information regarding 6 Sri Lankan doctors connected to a kidney racket and the involvement of several leading hospitals in Sri Lanka.
Director General of Health Services Dr. Palitha Mahipala said that the Ministry of Health in also conducting a comprehensive investigation into the allegations.
He also added that the decision will have no affect on Sri Lankan nationals undergoing kidney transplant surgeries at any hospital in the country, government or private, and that only kidney transplants performed on foreign nationals has been halted.
This came after the Indian police arrested a person, Suresh Prajapathi (36), who is said to be the kingpin in the kidney racket, and two of his accomplices who had facilitated some 60 kidney transplants.
The Indian police have also filed cases against six Sri Lankan doctors working with four different hospitals in Colombo on the charge of conducting paid kidney transplantation in violation of ethics.
