Poverty in Pakistan triggers boost in Illegal Kidney Trade

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Poverty in Pakistan triggers boost in Illegal Kidney Trade
Poverty in Pakistan triggers boost in Illegal Kidney Trade

Poverty in Pakistan triggers boost in Illegal Kidney Trade

 

In Lahore , Pakistan doctors were caught mid way thorough two illegal kidney transplants when the authorities erupted into a makeshift in the hospital leaving the local donors and Omani clients unconscious on the table.

Doctors were arrested along with their assistants and Omanis, after the completion of the operation. As per the authorities this is a turning point in the battle against organ trafficking.

Since a long time, Pakistan has been considered as an international hub in the matters concerning the trade of illegal kidneys. As per the authorities they failed to stop such activities their was lack of enforcement of policies which aimed to put a stop on such practices. Such practices are designated as legal when the organ is donated voluntarily without coercion or in exchange of money.

In Pakistan their prevails a shortage of the ones who are willing to donate as it is considered taboo for Muslims. And so limited supply gives a chance to wealthy Pakistanis to exploit the millions of poor with the help of trade mafia which further leads to the availability of kidneys at cheap prices, attracting buyers from Gulf, Africa and United Kingdom.

As per an AFP reporter who explored the upmarket  general hospital in Islamabad and seeked the help of a staff who assisted him in finding an agent who will get both the donor and government’s approval for $23,000.

According to Dr Suleman Ahmed, a HOTA (Human Organs Transplant Authority), “If a donor claims that they have given their consent, there is nothing else that we can do.”

The raid that took place in Lahore on April 30 is regarded as the beginning of a new clampdown which resulted in the arresting of 16 people who are put behind the bars for a decade and also made it clear that Pakistan is no longer a safe shelter for the one involved in this trade.

According to Sindh Institute of urology and Transplant, ” Around 25,000 people face the problem of kidney failure but only 10 percent receive dialysis and 2.3 percent get an access to transplant.”

A large number of people approach government hospitals and bring the donors who are willing to donate kidney but as soon as they get to know that they can buy kidneys from private hospitals , they immediately move towards private hospitals and to meet high demand s of kidney people from rural areas are being dragged into this as they on account of their poverty need to repay debts which they have taken from their employers.

Bushra Bibi is one of them who sold her kidney 12 years ago for 110,000 rupees for the medical treatment and repayment of loan.

“I can’t sweep, people talk about me when I can’t finish my work.” Said bibi, tears rolling down her cheeks. She along with her family live in the Sarogodha district and it is the same district where many families have been caught up in the kidney trade that where a resident Malik Zafar has formed a union to fight for the rights of the donors.

 

 

 

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