Hyderabad: In the wake of the kidney transplant racket, authorities are sounding the alarm over widespread data breaches within hospitals. These breaches, largely originating from private institutions, have allowed criminals to exploit sensitive organ transplant data, leading to illegal operations.
The information, often shared via unsecured channels like WhatsApp groups, is being used to track both organ donors and recipients. Regulatory bodies are now intensifying efforts to create strict guidelines to prevent such breaches and ensure that organ transplant data is properly protected.
Authorities have also uncovered troubling evidence that individuals involved in the kidney racket at Alakananda Hospital used organ data obtained from the govt’s Jeevandan programme. This revelation highlights the gravity of the situation, as sensitive information that should be protected is being exploited for illegal activities.
Upholding privacy
Senior officials said that hospitals are legally obligated to maintain privacy when announcing organ availability and requirements. However, this responsibility is being neglected, and the data is ending up in the hands of criminals.
“When the govt announces the availability and requirement of organs to hospitals, they are obligated to uphold privacy. However, this is not happening. We are working to create a system that will ensure better control over this data,” a senior official said. Hospitals will soon receive circulars outlining new measures to prevent further breaches.
The data in question is not only accessible locally but may also be shared internationally, potentially leading to recipients being contacted.
The situation is further complicated by the operations of smaller institutions conducting transplant surgeries without proper authorisation. While hospitals generally receive approval under the Clinical Establishment Act, organ transplants require a separate assessment by the directorate of medical education.
“However, many such surgeries are taking place without meeting these criteria. Officials are calling for a robust tracking mechanism that will allow them to monitor and identify unapproved procedures, which could potentially reduce the risks posed by unauthorised operations,” sources said.
New guidelines
Officials have acknowledged ongoing discrepancies in organ transplant procedures across several hospitals. To address these, committees have been formed to conduct thorough investigations. “We have found inconsistencies in the adherence to transplant protocols, even in hospitals with proper permissions. We are introducing a new set of guidelines to tackle these issues,” an official said.
Meanwhile, investigations into the Alakananda Hospital kidney racket continue. It has been revealed that recipients in this case — a male and a female — were put on dialysis for a week at a separate hospital before the transplants took place. Currently, two recipients and two female donors are still hospitalised at Gandhi Hospital, under observation as part of the ongoing investigation.
Relatives of the donors have requested their discharge, citing that their condition is stable, but the hospital has said that approval from higher authorities is still pending.
