The Private Hospitals Association (PHA) yesterday denied any illegal procedure regarding organ transplantation and said that all organ transplant surgeries are authorized by the Ministry of Health.

PHA made the statement yesterday following the Government suspension of all foreign kidney transplants in Sri Lanka.

"Member hospitals of the Association perform a variety of surgeries for local and foreign patients. Kidney Transplant is one such surgery performed in these hospitals. Organ Transplant surgeries come under the purview of the Human Tissue Act of 1987, Sri Lanka. As such, the hospitals comply with rigorous regulatory and legal procedures as established by the Ministry of Health. All such surgeries are authorized by the Ministry of Health prior to surgery. All member hospitals abide by this procedure”, PHA stated.

Earlier this week, police in Nalgonda, in Telangana, India, had filed cases against six Sri Lankan doctors who are allegedly involved in a kidney racket.Police recently arrested the kingpin in the kidney racket, Suresh Prajapathi (36), and two of his cronies, who facilitated 60 kidney transplants.

However, four Sri Lankan doctors in a collective statement yesterday rejected media reports saying that they were charged by the Indian police, over a kidney racket using private hospitals in Colombo.

This is the second time an investigation is being authorized following the accounts of illegal organ transplantation in Sri Lanka.