Kidney Sale Scandal Unfolds in Tamil Nadu

Fast Summary

• Incident overview: L. Manikandan, a 36-year-old construction worker from Namakkal, Tamil Nadu, sold his kidney for ₹4.5 lakh to repay debts but was left with lasting health issues.
• Organ Trade Network: Manikandan is part of an ongoing investigation into a widespread illegal kidney trade that targets economically disadvantaged individuals through middlemen and brokers.
• Hospital Involvement: Two private hospitals in Tamil Nadu have had their transplant licenses suspended for irregularities tied to the illegal organ trade – Dhanalakshmi Srinivasan Medical College (Perambalur) and Cethar hospital (Tiruchi).
• Broader Context: Over decades, Tamil Nadu has seen recurring instances of commercial kidney donations tied to poverty and debt, including large-scale cases in Chennai post-tsunami (2007).
• Legal Loopholes: Experts highlight issues within the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act (THOTA), notably Section 9(3), which allows non-relative donations based on “affection,” often abused in commercial trafficking schemes.
• Regulatory Failures: Lack of regular inspections, undefined roles within oversight committees, and absence of autonomous donor advocates exacerbates malpractice risks.
• Impact on Donors: Studies show donors often face declining income and worsening health after nephrectomy without long-term economic benefits.

Image caption: Namakkal district under scrutiny for illegal organ trade. Health officials conducting investigations at Pallipalayam.

Lastly, this incident should encourage broader discourse on socioeconomic reforms tackling endemic poverty-the root cause driving individuals toward such desperate decisions-which no healthcare provision alone can resolve comprehensively.Read more*: Source