Cape hospital denies illegal ops
2003-12-12 21:58
Cape Town - The Netcare hospital group on Friday denied rumours that Christiaan Barnard Memorial Hospital was being probed in the investigation into an organ-trafficking operation recently uncovered in Durban.
Netcare's marketing manager George Baptiste said police had not spoken to them about any such investigation.
He did acknowledge however, that Netcare was co-operating with police in the investigation into organ transplants carried out at St Augustine's Hospital in Durban.
"We were not aware of any irregularities at any hospital, but when police informed us of St Augustine's we offered our co-operation," said Baptiste.
He said rumours that Christiaan Barnard Hospital was involved were started by an English newspaper.
Senior superintendent Mary Martins-Engelbrecht, the national police spokesperson, said police were aware of claims about Christiaan Barnard Hospital.
78 incidents of organ trafficking
The investigation was too sensitive at this stage to release any information, she said.
The co-ordinator of the trafficking network, Roderick Kimberley, admitted guilt in Durban magistrate's court this week.
He admitted to having been involved in 78 incidents of transgressing the law on human tissue.
He said he had been involved in 38 transplant operations at St Augustine's Hospital between 2002 and last month in which donors had been paid for their organs.
False statements were made so as to make it appear the transplants were legitimate, as it is illegal in South Africa for donors to be paid for their organs.
Earlier, Agania Robel, an Israeli, admitted having paid for a kidney, which he received last month. The alleged middleman, Meir Shushan, is to appear in court next year.
Police said more arrests could be expected - especially of medical personnel.