The committee, chaired by Seme MP James Nyikal, said it is at the tail-end of investigations into alleged suspicious organ transplant activities at the hospital and a comprehensive final report will be out next month.
Speaking to the media on Monday, Dr Nyikal said the committee is currently analysing a report by the hospital before writing their final report.
The committee was meeting with the management of Mediheal Group of Hospitals and their legal representatives as part of the ongoing inquiry into legality, ethical compliance, and oversight of past kidney transplants at the private hospital.
He revealed that the committee was in Eldoret two months ago where it met some patients who had donated their organs as well as visiting other hospitals alleged to have been involved in the matter.
Giving a glimpse into some aspects of submission by the hospital, the lawmaker said the voluminous report by Mediheal has revealed that the facility conducted 470 organ transplants, including kidney transplants.
The report also has details of patients – both donors and recipients – involved as well as their nationalities.
“We are positive we have a detailed report that will make us reach a conclusion. We are going to scrutinise the report and have a conclusion within a month,” said Dr Nyikal.
The second term legislator said that at the moment, the committee is unable to conclusively say whether the 470 organ transplants conducted at Mediheal facilities were illegal or not.
However, he said it was evident organ transplant was being conducted at the facilities with patients comprising both locals and foreigners.
“What we know is that transplants were going on at the hospitals but we cannot say whether they were proper or not until we go through the entire report,” he said.
The committee is investigating whether procedures at Mediheal were ethically and legally compliant, whether donors were coerced or paid, and whether existing legal or institutional gaps allowed potential malpractices to occur.
Subsequently, they have questioned officials from Mediheal and other hospitals in Eldoret over the allegations, particularly concerning foreign nationals receiving transplants funded by the National Health Insurance Fund.
The other facilities include Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, St Luke Orthopaedic and Trauma Centre, and Oak Tree Hospital in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County.
The committee seeks to find out whether the transplants or donations were legal, were people properly advised, and whether all the requirements were followed.
The committee’s inquiry was triggered by a petition in Parliament alleging organ harvesting and illegal transplants.
This followed mounting public concern over possible breaches of professional ethics, transplant tourism and commercialisation of organ donations by Mediheal.
The Kenya Renal Association had in May last year made damning claims over the growing trend of organ trade involving vulnerable donors and foreign recipients at the private hospital, citing testimonies suggesting coercion, lack of proper informed consent and inducements to donors in contravention of the law.
At one time, Nandi Hills MP Bernard Kitur claimed his life was in danger for pushing to expose the alleged syndicate.
Nonetheless, the owner of Mediheal Hospital, Swarup Mishra, has denied any wrongdoing or criminal conduct in organ transplant activities.
The hospital, one of East Africa’s leading private healthcare providers, has been offering organ transplant services for over a decade. However, concerns have been raised about the conduct of the facility, especially over its transplant procedures.
In April this year, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale directed the immediate suspension of all kidney transplant services at Mediheal Group of Hospitals until further notice following allegations of malpractice and ethical violations related to transplant procedures at the facility.
An Independent Expert Committee to undertake a full audit of kidney transplant services across all Mediheal facilities over the past five years was subsequently established.
The committee was to review governance structures, clinical practices, ethical compliance, and patient safety protocols, and is expected to submit its report within 90 days.
In its report in July, the independent committee recommended the immediate investigation and prosecution of Mr Mishra and other doctors for potential criminal involvement.
