PESHAWAR: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) identified five coordinated groups engaged in the illegal kidney transplantation trade in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) disclosed that in the year 18 individuals were detained and five unauthorized kidney transplant facilities were closed.
FIA authorities stated that individuals requiring kidney transplants were billed amounts ranging from 40 to 50 lakh rupees for the surgery.
The unlawful kidney market involves intermediaries who recruit individuals, primarily from regions such as Lahore and other areas of Punjab. These individuals, impoverished labourers in brick kilns are deceived into parting with their kidneys in exchange, for cash.
The FIA states that patients hailing from Peshawar and regions of KP are typically transported to Rawalpindi for their transplants whereas the donor’s medical specimens are obtained in Peshawar. The majority of the middlemen and surgeons participating in the trade originate from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The FIA has shut down unauthorized facilities conducting these transplants, including locations, in Peshawar, Nowshera and Mardan. Numerous such centres operated out of residences with setup expenses of about 30 lakh rupees.
According to the local news channel Geo News report, each kidney transplant costs patients much, as 50 lakh rupees yet the donor is given only a modest sum (approximately 3 lakh rupees) with the remainder of the funds distributed among agents, surgeons and additional personnel.
This year eight FIRs have been filed against individuals engaged in the kidney trade. The law prescribes a 10-year imprisonment for anyone found guilty of this practice. Moreover, the cooperating surgeons have their medical licenses taken away as a sanction.
FIA is still openly combating these illegal networks of kidney transplantation with the intention of safeguarding the weak and stopping the transfer of this bad practice.
