Mediheal Hospital and Fertility Centre has recently been under the spotlight over controversial kidney transplant practices.
The hospital’s founder Swarup Mishra, has staunchly defended its operations, maintaining the facility has no regrets for performing kidney transplants or offering services to international patients in Kenya.
Mishra, publicly addressed the allegations of a kidney transplant racket operating from the Eldoret-based hospital for the first time.
He dismissed the accusations as unfair and driven by jealousy from developed nations who were, in his view, uncomfortable with a Kenyan hospital advancing in specialised procedures like organ transplants.
“Many countries that have benefited economically from kidney transplant procedures were displeased when Mediheal began offering these services. They used various tactics to tarnish our reputation,” he said.
He expressed his willingness to face the legal and public scrutiny surrounding the matter, reiterating his unwavering support for the institution’s practices.
According Mishra, the ongoing investigations would ultimately exonerate Mediheal. He assured the public that the hospital was fully cooperating with government health agencies, regulators, and investigators probing the transplant operations.
As a former vice-chairman of the National Assembly Health Committee, Mishra maintained that Mediheal has comprehensive records of every patient and donor since it initiated kidney transplant services in November 2018.
While the hospital did not refute claims that some kidney donors were not biologically related to recipients, Mishra clarified that these transplants were conducted after private agreements between consenting adults, arrangements in which the hospital had no part.
“Yes, there have been allegations which started six months after we began kidney transplants in November 2018, and the attacks on social media have been malicious,” he said, denying any link between the attacks and his political opponents.
He revealed that Mediheal continued conducting kidney transplants until 25 March 2025.
His lawyer, Katwa Kigen, argued that the hospital should not be blamed for grievances aired by Kenyans alleging organ loss, pointing out that none had formally registered complaints with the institution.
“When two people come to the hospital, one claiming to be the recipient and the other the donor, the hospital believes them,” Kigen said.
He added, “If there are any issues beyond what has been presented to us, the hospital cannot be held responsible, and we cannot treat our patients with suspicion.”
Kigen added that the hospital maintained full documentation of its transplant activities and was prepared to defend itself vigorously against long-standing claims.
He noted that 476 kidney transplants had been carried out at the facility, with 62 patients coming from Israel. However, the majority, 372, were Kenyans.
Mishra added that only 10 patients had died due to transplant-related complications, citing this as one of the lowest mortality rates globally.
Reflecting on his own recent tribulations, Dr Mishra recalled being suspended as chairman of the BioVax Institute on Good Friday, shortly after his father's death in India.
“I made a mistake. As a responsible leader, I should have stepped aside the moment the allegations emerged,” he confessed.
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