Illegal kidney transplant racket busted, Telangana Health Minister orders strict action

Telangana health officials uncover illegal kidney transplant racket at Alakananda Hospital, leading to strict action by authorities.

Telangana health officials along with Rachakonda Police have unearthed an illegal kidney transplant racket operating out of Alakananda Hospital, a private facility in Saroor Nagar, Kothapet of Rangareddy district. The operation came to light after an anonymous tip-off led authorities to investigate the hospital, which was functioning without proper authorisation.

The racket reportedly involved doctors from other states, including Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, who were lured with financial incentives to perform illegal kidney transplants in collaboration with the hospital staff. Rangareddy District Medical and Health Officer (DMHO) Venkateshwar Rao confirmed that during an inspection, four individuals were found at the hospital, two kidney donors and two recipients, all from Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. “When questioned, they claimed they were undergoing surgeries for appendicitis. We have shifted them to Gandhi Hospital for better medical care,” he revealed.

Reacting to the incident, Health Minister C. Damodar Raja Narasimha said that such illegal practices would not be tolerated in the medical profession, which is considered sacred. He ordered strict action against the doctors, hospital management, and others involved in the racket, ensuring they are punished under the law.

The Minister also convened senior health officials to review the details of the case and instructed task force committees, already established under the Clinical Establishment Act, to intensify inspections of private hospitals. He reiterated the need for these committees to operate more rigorously to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Furthermore, the Minister directed senior police officials to monitor hospitals closely for signs of illegal activities. A full investigation into the Alakananda Hospital case has been ordered, with a comprehensive report to be submitted promptly, said a release from the health department.