Islamabad, Aug 26: A report by Islam Khabar has exposed the alarming scale of Pakistan’s organ trafficking network, which is allegedly operating openly with the involvement of medical professionals and under the watch of state authorities.
Surgeons, nurses, and anesthetists are reportedly participating in illegal organ removal procedures, turning medical spaces into sites of exploitation.
One particularly disturbing case occurred in Bahria Town, Rawalpindi, where a young man was rescued just before his kidney was to be forcibly removed.
This was the second such bust in the city within a week, pointing to an active, organized network operating with impunity in affluent neighborhoods.
The report criticizes the ineffectiveness of Pakistan’s Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act (THOTA), passed 15 years ago to regulate organ transplants and prevent exploitation.
Despite its intent, the law is described as existing “only on paper,” with enforcement and oversight by regulatory bodies almost nonexistent.
The repeated involvement of healthcare professionals in these crimes suggests not only negligence but also possible complicity, raising serious ethical and legal concerns.
Their actions reflect deep flaws in both regulation and accountability within the healthcare system.
These incidents, occurring in rapid succession, reveal that organ trafficking is far from rare or isolated. Rather, it is a normalized and well-entrenched operation that continues unchecked unless disrupted by chance or public outcry.
According to the report, the root of the issue lies in systemic failure.
Regulatory institutions are either unwilling or unable to act, and legal protections for vulnerable citizens are ignored.
The organ trade thrives in this vacuum, exploiting the poor while those responsible for safeguarding lives look the other way.
Ultimately, Pakistan’s organ trafficking crisis highlights more than criminal behavior—it exposes a broader breakdown in governance, ethics, and accountability.
Laws remain unenforced, professionals violate their oath, and the state fails to protect its people. (IANS)
