A SYNDICATE in which some medical personnel in Zambia are allegedly selling body organs to some South African hospitals for personal gain has been exposed.
But Ministry of Health spokesperson Reuben Mbewe has dispelled the allegations linking some major public hospitals to the sale of body parts for transplants as mere rumours.
According to some sources, the clandestine activities are said to have arisen following the increasing international demand for kidney replacements driven by the escalating cases of diabetes and other diseases.
The sources described the stealing of body parts for sale to biomedical supply companies as a huge enterprise.
The sources further revealed that some body parts went missing when a post-mortem was being conducted to establish the cause of death of a person.
They said although the law requires relatives, a lawyer, representatives of the hospital, and the Police to be present during a post-mortem examination, body parts still went missing despite labelling them.
The sources, however, did not have details of how the body parts were smuggled out of the country.
When contacted, Police said they had not received any reports on the matter and appealed to the public to report such activities.
The body organ trade is illegal in Zambia.
Police spokesperson Charity Chanda said the Police would launch investigations into the matter.
“We have not received such reports over the sale of human body parts, but we appeal to the public to report such activities,” Ms Chanda said.
The illegal trade in kidneys had increased to such a level that an estimated 10,000 black market operations involving purchased human organs now take place annually, according to World Health Organisation experts.
In Zambia thousands of patients die each year because of inadequate supply of organs as patients in need of kidney transplants wait for years in the hope of getting donors.
The sources said patients, many of whom go to China, India or Pakistan for surgery, could pay up to US$200,000 for a kidney.
There are almost 78 organs in a human body which vary according to their sizes, functions or actions, but the ones on high demand are kidneys, the heart and liver.
The sources said kidneys make up 75 per cent of the global organ trade due to diabetes, high blood pressure and heart problems, and fetch $262,900 in China and $62,000 in India.
The heart is worth about $997,700 while the liver fetches up to $557,100. The kidneys can go up to $262,900 in the Unites States of America, $62,000 in China, and $15,000 in India.
Out of the 78 organs of a male or female body, the skin is the largest organ with respect to its size and weight.
But Dr Mbewe said he had taken interest in the issue and stated that the ministry would investigate the alleged scandal.
“Iam hearing it for the first time and we will investigate the issue with the permanent secretary,” he said.
University Teaching Hospital managing director Ben Chirwa said the matter sounded vague as the process involved in extracting body parts was too complex.
He refused to comment on the matter, saying the hospital management had to conduct investigations to ascertain the truth.
Dr Chirwa said transplantation medicine was one of the most challenging and complex areas of modern medicine.
“Dead parts are dead parts, they can’t function. Moreover, donors must have a compatible blood type with the recipient,” he said.
Dr Chirwa said it was not possible to use body organs from a dead body.
Kitwe Central Hospital senior medical superintendent, John Mwewa said management would “sniff around” to find out if such activities were linked to the hospital.
“When there are such allegations we don’t just sit idle. We are going to investigate the matter though our hospital does not conduct transplants, but it is an interesting story,” Dr Mwewa said.
He, however, acknowledged that the quest for organs had grown and that until the shortage was alleviated, such vices might not end.
Ndola Central Hospital management also expressed ignorance over the matter, saying they would carry out investigations.
The hospital public relations officer Sheona Kamwendo said the hospital had not received any such reports.
Air Mukwai_
December 27, 2015 at 10:32 am
Lack of ethics, greediness and bukayitemwe can tannish the noble proffesion
Goodz
December 27, 2015 at 10:57 am
The love of money is the root of evil acts
New Educated Zambia©❤√
December 27, 2015 at 11:07 am
And you say we have a working government. High cost of living and poor economy under pf means that even doctors are not immune to suffering.
spannerman
December 27, 2015 at 11:15 am
Fyabufi human body parties cant be harvested later than 12hour after death.
kayula
December 27, 2015 at 11:40 am
Police and other civil servants should be treated like teachers. If a teacher is found with examination related case that teacher will lose job there and then. If he wins that case thats when the ministry can think of bringing him back. There is nothing like half salaries and suspensions
uuuuuumm!
December 27, 2015 at 1:29 pm
When I die, in my will, I want my heart to be given to someone who needs one with a discount of $100000 frm $900000. So please anyone awaiting heart transplant get in touch.its above 50 yrs old and functioning OK.?
zambian
December 27, 2015 at 2:18 pm
hanez with politics,comment on hh hatred against bembas.
zondiwe
December 27, 2015 at 2:53 pm
In other countries such activities are formalized and the individual decides on this while they are alive………sources of revenue for govt
Judge Joe Bidden
December 27, 2015 at 3:03 pm
Those are just stories, am not aware.
Czar
December 27, 2015 at 3:07 pm
True, bro. As a health professional I doubt that this is happening.
Judge Joe Bidden
December 27, 2015 at 3:56 pm
That’s what I mean, because even in mortuaries no one is allowed to perform autopsy alone.
monica
December 27, 2015 at 5:13 pm
Empty report
New Educated Zambia
December 27, 2015 at 5:38 pm
RE: OPEN LATTER TO UPND, BANTUSTAN, SECRET SOCIETY GROUP OF SATANIST, AND ZAMBIAN WATCH DOG A CULT MEDIA HOUSE OF FREE MASSONS. Stop impose a tonga President/ Satanist on a christian nation. Imwe ba fa na ka NEZ and your company!!! note that as chief govenment spoken I used to get iritated each time when ever UPND Chaps post any nonsical comments on important topics butnow i have accepted your madness and stupidity NEZ and your under 5 UPND boss. note thatHH will never rule zambia as long as he remains a satanist, unless your under five becomes born again. Secondly HH should explain why his wife has endless periods. You chaps youvshould thank the editors of this site for allowing youto post your foolish opinion on every topic. Imagine if it was myself or other well meaning Zambians criticing or insulting your under five presedent HH on Zambian Wach Dog or Zambia eye a wholly owned subsidary of Zambian Watch dog or the Metro newspapers can they publish my comments or opinion? No they cannot as long as my views are contraly to those of the tonga chaps, or contraly to HH, and disgraced former banker Matani. I invite all upnd supporter on this democratic site to freely come desplay your stupidity and madness. Note that Zambia Reports. Lusaka Voice, Kitwe Times, Tumfweko, and Lusaka times. Note; the above online media they are very democratic in nature respecting the wishes and views of the people an like ZAMBIAN WATCH DOG, ZAMBIA EYE, ZAMBIAN INTELLIGENCE NEWS, POST NEWSPAPERS AND THE METRO NEWSPAPERS Who aretrying very hard to impose a tonga/ President on zambians, A satanist HH. kikikiki NEZ foolish man keep on entertaining us kikkikdreamer. viva PF viva HE. Presindent Lungu until 2021.
Ghetto
December 27, 2015 at 6:36 pm
Lungu 2016
Bambola
December 27, 2015 at 7:01 pm
Dr Chirwa has said it all organs from a dead person are also dead. Thanks.
observer
December 27, 2015 at 9:46 pm
Some article are a danger to society especially that even prices are mentioned for each organ which can be detrimental to the peace we enjoy in our community when thugs take advantage to start attacking people for their organs.
hlumuno
December 28, 2015 at 7:01 am
Ba tumfweko this story is a total lie,we bury pipo but we hav never seen what u are reporting ,be factual not bush journalism.
hlumuno
December 28, 2015 at 7:04 am
Fyabufi naimwe
Critical Analyser
December 28, 2015 at 11:27 am
This is only true with educated fools like Nez
Critical Analyser
December 28, 2015 at 11:40 am
I see this as an advert so that people can start selling them.Cmon tumfweko HH will kill all Bembas and get our hearts.$900,000 twalapwa
Manix
December 28, 2015 at 11:56 am
@ observer good observation, thugs like NEZ who is always complaining about PF even in his dreams can take advantage to start attacking people for their organs so that his household economy can improve a bit.