Wednesday, April 02, 2008 Health department has no info on kidney selling By Carlo P. Mallo
THE Department of Health (DOH) in Southern Mindanao denied receiving any reports that kidneys are being sold in Davao City, or in any other part of the region contrary to claims of a number of residents from M'lang, North Cotabato that they have allegedly sold their organs to some buyers in Davao City.
The DOH said only three hospitals in Southern Mindanao have the capability to conduct a kidney transplant.
The Davao Medical Center and the Davao Doctor's Hospital, both in Davao City, and the Davao Regional Hospital in Tagum City, Davao del Norte, are the only hospitals capable of conducting a kidney transplant in the entire Southern Mindanao.
Ana Remolar, information officer of DOH Southern Mindanao, in an interview Tuesday said they have not received any report on the sale or trade of kidneys.
"Not even a phone call, or anyone has reported to us," Remolar said.
But should there have been a report, Remolar said an investigation would be conducted immediately.
"The DOH does not promote, encourage, or allow the sale of kidneys," she added.
On the average, a kidney transplant will run from P300,000 to P400,000, excluding the drugs and other expenses that may be incurred.
Black market
Remolar also discounted the possibility of a "black market" in Davao City as the one behind the trade of kidneys.
"It is most unlikely," Remolar said, adding that the procedure in the transplant of kidneys is quite complicated.
"It can only be done in three hospitals, and there are only two surgeons in Southern Mindanao who can do that," Remolar said.
Monitoring
The health department said they have no longer monitored the number of kidney transplants being conducted in Davao City, as the doctors would directly report it to the National Kidney Transplant Institute (NKTI), instead of coursing it through the health department.
"We no longer found it necessary to monitor, as they would report directly to the NKTI, and there were only two of them here, so they can easily report to the NKTI," Oliveros Tiongco, a medical technologist of the Regional Nephrology Program of the DOH.
Government appeal
It was reported in Sun.Star Davao last week that the local government units (LGUs) of North Cotabato have sought the assistance of DOH-Southern Mindanao to put an end to the illegal trade of kidney.
According to the report, 10 M'lang residents admitted in having sold one of their kidneys to rich patients in Davao City who are in need of a kidney transplant. It was also alleged by the residents that the payment and transplant were done in a private hospital in Davao City.
This concern was raised by no less than Mayor Piñol who said that at least 10 M'lang residents have admitted having sold their kidneys and having these removed in Davao City.
It was learned that kidney donors are paid P200,000 plus a 10-year PhilHealth membership and one year free check-up at the private hospital at the expense of the kidney recipient.
