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KARACHI, March 30: The Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation (SIUT), Karachi, which had expressed reservations about the composition of a government inspection team, is not included in the first list of medical institutions which are being accorded permanent recognition by the government for undertaking human organ transplant activities.
A source privy to the process of verification of claims made by various medical institutions for grant of government permission said that though the SIUT enjoyed a good reputation and had been given provisional permission to carry out transplantations under the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Ordinance (THOT), 2007, it would have to wait for another time for permanent recognition.
In January this year, when the first round of inspections was executed in medical institutions of Karachi, the SIUT was skipped by the Human Organ Transplantation Authority (HOTA) inspection team under a directive of the federal health ministry, the source added, saying that permanent recognition would be given to the SIUT only after its inspection and confirmation of the claims regarding the availability of expertise, surgical facilities and other criteria pertaining to kidney transplants there, which was a must as per the THOT.
Expressing disagreement over the composition of a HOTA inspection team, the SIUT in early January had urged the federal government to delay an upcoming visit of the team as it included a couple of persons allegedly involved in promoting and performing commercial kidney transplants, negating the aspirations of the people who wanted to see an ethical foundation for transplantation in the country.
In receipt of a formal complaint from the SIUT about the inspection team, which was constituted for the SIUT and four other institutions of Karachi, the federal health ministry and HOTA had decided to postpone the team’s visit to the institute at the time. However, HOTA’s ad hoc recognition granted to the SIUT still stands valid, irrespective of the reservations it showed initially, it was learnt.
In the meantime, the names of about 34 medical institutions located in Karachi, Rawalpindi/ Islamabad, Bahawalpur, Lahore and Multan have been cleared for award of permanent recognition by a higher forum of the government headed by the federal health minister in view of the inspection teams’ reports and recommendations. A gazette notification is now awaited.When contacted, retired Maj-Gen A.Q. Usmani, the administrator of HOTA, said on Saturday that he was waiting for signals from the federal health secretary in regard to the SIUT inspection for grant of permanent recognition.
‘Composition of teams not permanent’
He said the teams constituted earlier for inspection purposes were never permanent groups and compositions of such teams could be changed at any time.
“There is all possibility about the setting up of a new inspection team for the SIUT by the government,” he added, saying that the inspection in question may be ordered next month.
When asked about the outcome of his request to the Federal Investigation Agency, the Punjab government’s health department and the police to probe illegal organ trade, Gen Usmani said he had not received any information so far about any recently undertaken human kidney transplant in Lahore or any other part of the country.
Senior urological surgeons from within the country and abroad, including the President of the Middle East Society for Organ Transplantations, Dr Mustafa Al-Mousawi, who is based in Kuwait, about two weeks ago had expressed concern over alleged illegal commercial kidney transplantation, involving unrelated donations from Pakistanis, and urged the government to check such activities.
Gen Usmani said he did not mean the allegations had not been substantiated, but said maybe the authorities approached by HOTA were still investigating the matter and would submit a final report in due time.
