The federal health ministry has written the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) to warn all doctors in relevant specialties to “be aware so that Nigerians will be circumspect while embarking on medical tourism in Egypt
The memo is to create awareness to Nigerians intending to travel to Egypt for medical attention. Patients stand the risk of getting their organs illegally trafficked or losing their lives to the growing trade in illegal organ harvest and transplant.
It raises concern about patients possibly seeking treatment abroad and their doctors referring them to any complicit hospital.
Dr Wapada I. Balami, director for Hospital services, in a statement for the Minister of Health entitled, ”41 Suspected illegal human kidney traffickers on the trail in Egypt” revealed that there is an increase in illegal harvesting and transplanting of human organs in that country.
It was also gathered that 41 human kidney traffickers have been arraigned by Egypt’s prosecutor Generals and the hospital in which these atrocities were committed were listed.
Nigerians are, however, advised to be aware of the said issue while embarking on medical tourism in Egypt.
The office of Egypt’s prosecutor-general has issued names of private hospitals in Giza area of Cairo complicit in the trafficking of human kidneys.
- Dar al-shefa in Helwan, Cairo
- Al-Bashar Specialist Hospital in Faisal, Giza
- Al-Amal Centre for General Surgery in Maurinteya, Giza
- Dar Ibn Al-Nafis Hospital, Giza
“If some of our colleagues are in that trade, that is very disheartening,” Mike Ogirinma, NMA president.
“For us as an association, we may not have such powers to stop it but we can investigate.”
But NMA is handicapped to sanction erring doctors.
The regulatory body, the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, which hosts a tribunal to try erring doctors and dentists cannot constitute a board since it was dissolved in 2015.
“The organ left for us is the regulatory body, MDCN. Professional misconduct or negligence are taken before it. Unfortunately that council was dissolved immediately this administration came in, and NMA has been pushing for it to be reconstituted.”
