'DNA' impact: Health dept temporarily bans organ transplantation at Fortis

The health department has banned Fortis Hospital, Seshadripuram, from conducting renal transplants with immediate effect, till the latter meets the norms of the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act, 1994.

Acting on a report published in DNA (Fortis gets notice over licence to do operations) on September 24 — which spoke of how Fortis Hospital, Seshadripuram, had been operating without a valid licence required as per the norms and regulations of the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act — the department banned the hospital from conducting any further transplantation of human organs.

The hospital had claimed that it had acquired a majority stake in Lalitha Healthcare Pvt Ltd and had entered into an agreement to use the available facilities. The health department — based on a complaint by Major Pankaj Rai (retired) — had issued a show-cause notice to Fortis Hospital besides forming a three-member committee under Dr Karur. The committee also visited Fortis Hospital and submitted a report on it.

According to sources, Anjum Parwej, commissioner, department of health, (who is now posted as managing director of the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC), had issued an order banning Fortis Hospital, temporarily, from conducting any transplantation of human organs.

Sources said KB Eshwarappa, deputy director, department of health and family welfare, prepared the order on behalf of the commissioner imposing a temporary ban on Fortis Hospital, Seshadripuram.

Confirming the temporary ban, Eshwarappa said he had dispatched the letter (JDM/HOTA/03/2012-13, dated Sept 24, 2012) to Fortis Hospital. “The ban will be in force till they provide all the necessary documents and follow the norms of the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act, 1994,’’ said Eshwarappa.

Congratulating the health department officials, especially Anjum Parwej, for taking the decision with regard to Fortis Hospital, Major Pankaj Rai (retired), whose wife had died due to alleged negligence of doctors at Fortis Hospital on Bannerghatta Road a few years ago, said, “It is a victory for patients’ rights. It is a lesson for Fortis Hospital that has been conducting human organs transplantation with utter disregard to law the land and patients’ safety.” When contacted, a spokesperson of Fortis Hospital said it was not a ban but an interim order from the department of health and family welfare. “This is an interim step for health authorities to fully review the matter. All the renal transplants undertaken at our hospital are as per the required regulatory norms,’’ said the spokesperson.

Fortis Hospital on Bannerghatta Road lost its licence in September, 2011, over the alleged negligence of doctors.