Daily Times

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has taken strict notice of illegal organ trafficking in the province and sought complete report from the Specialised Healthcare and Medical Education (SHE&ME) Department in this regard, directing it to probe into the matter.

Well-informed sources told Daily Times that Punjab has emerged as breeding ground for a thriving organ trafficking racket. Organ trafficking was one of the fastest, but least reported crimes in Punjab.

It has often been described as a deep-rooted menace affecting the medical profession, both domestically and globally.

Sources said the Punjab government was reluctant to take stern action against perpetrators involved in organ trafficking in the province, further highlighting its lack of seriousness and commitment to improve the healthcare system of Pakistan.

Sources said that the provincial government was well aware that 46 men and 15 women, including eight from Kot Raja, 24 from Sultanpur, 16 from Bucha Kallan, three from Phularwan, two from Maggi Moor, three from Nawa Look Mela, two from Kot Momin and one each from Hawali Qurashain and Gullah Poor, in district Sargodha had sold their kidneys.

They said agents, after finalising their deals without any fear, take the poor people to the hospitals and get them operated. It has also come to notice that eight agents, belonging to Rawalpindi and Sargodha, were actively involved in this illegal business. Donors regularly put their lives on the line for Rs 60,000 to 160,000 from unscrupulous gangs who then sell the body parts for up to Rs 2 to 3 million.

Donors identified three hospitals in Rawalpindi where their kidney transplant operations took place, including a kidney centre near Ayub Park opposite Al-Shifa Eye Trust, Kahuta Road, Hearts International hospital near Sir Syed College, and Jinnah Memorial hospital, Jhandha Chichi.

Most of these donors included poor peasants and labourers, who took hefty loans from their landlords and were not able to pay back the amount, sources said, adding that these poor people were mostly illiterate and unable to even name the hospital where their kidney transplant operations were carried out.

The most unfortunate fact was that after donation, no proper post-operation care was provided to them. Consequently, they usually developed infections of complicated nature, resulting into life threatening diseases, sources said.

They added that after conducting complete survey of the area by special branch of police, it appeared the business of illegal organ trade has attracted many due to its lucrative nature.

This was the picture of only one district of Punjab (Sargodha) and one can imagine the situation in other district, which were underdeveloped and known for poverty, unemployment and backwardness, the sources feared.