PHA-Exchange> URGENT, Press Release : PEOPLE'S HEALTH MOVEMENT expresses concern over the illegal trading of organs and the collusion of the .....

[UNNIKRISHNAN P V (Dr)]

URGENT, Press Release                                                     Savar, Bangladesh, 22nd Nov 2002
PEOPLE'S HEALTH MOVEMENT                                                                              expresses concern over the illegal trading of organs and                                                the collusion of the medical professional bodies in Kerala, India:
We, the participants of the consultative meeting of the People's Health Movement held at Savar (in Bangladesh) expresses our serious concern and anguish over the media reports about the illegal trading of organs in the south Indian state of Kerala. These reports, that have reached scandalous proportions, raise concerns about the illegal and unethical practices that are followed in the name of medical profession and health care. PHM condemns any activity that misuses the medical services, technology and their custodians, namely the medical profession, who are getting involved in anti-people activities that promote ill health and violate the basic foundations of medical ethics.

PHM has always been impressed with the achievements of Kerala in attaining positive health indicators , despite the state's low economic status. PHM also understands that social factors like equity and social justice have contributed in  achieving  the impressive health indicators that are at par with the developed countries. 

However, the reports indicate that medical professional bodies are not maintaining the international standards when it comes to medical ethics and professional integrity. We are shocked to note the alleged role of the medical profession body, that is the Indian Medical Association in this scandal. The reported role of the Indian Medical Association in trying to save the erring members of the medical profession is worrying and we demand the IMA should take necessary steps to correct their unethical stand. 

We hope that the IMA will make efforts to orient themselves about the standards in ethical practices set up by international professional bodies like the World Medical Association, British Medical Association and the American Medical Association.

Trading of organs is a major issue that is being addressed by international medical community that has always given importance to medical rights and endorsed the related human rights of  excluded groups like tribals, migrants, refugees and minorities. 

PHM notes with concern the growing global poverty, inequity and economic deprivation that drives poor people to extreme situations and causes them to fall prey to  exploitation such as  rackets involved in illegal trading of human organs. Capital intensive farming, crop failures and international trade regimes have pushed farmers and poor communities into deprivation and a debt trap and thus making them extremely vulnerable to exploiters at different levels- Multi National Corporations at the international level and rackets like the one in Kerala and their supporters at the local level. The  dramatic increase in suicides by poor farmers and sale of kidneys and the underlying economic deprivation of the marginalized is a matter of great concern to PHM. National Governments should take note of the social and economic reasons behind such unethical and inhuman activities and try to protect the poor by implementing people oriented economic policies. The professional medical organizations should uphold the ethical traditions of the medical professions.

People's Health Movement is a people-oriented global initiative that evolved out of the People's Health Assembly, a historic summit that was held in December 2000 in Bangladesh, at Savar, on the campus of Gonoshasthaya Kendra (GK - People's Health Centre). Over 1453 participants from 92 countries met for the People's Health Assembly that was the culmination of 18 months of preparatory action around the globe.

Signed by:

David Sanders, South Africa (International People's Health Council)

Andrew Chetley, UK (Exchange)

Zafrullah Choudhury, Bangladesh (Gonoshasthaya Kendra)

Mira Shiva, India (People's Health Network)

Hugo Icu, Guatemala (International People's Health Council) 

Maria Zuniga, Nicaragua (International People's Health Council) 

Pam Zinkin, UK (MEDACT)

Carmelita Canila, Malaysia (Consumers International)

Melina Auerbach, Canada (Women's Global Network for Reproductive Rights) 

Majuma Saidi, Tanzania (People's Health Movement)

Prem John, India (Asian Community Health Action Network)

Ravi Narayan, India (Community Health Cell)

Qasem Choudhury , Bangladesh (Gonoshasthaya Kendra)

Unnikrishnan.P.V, Oxfam India (India)

+++++++++++++++  message forwarded by:+++++++++++
Dr. Unnikrishnan PV
E-mail: unnikru at yahoo.com   ; Mobile: 91 (0) 98450 91319

Click: www.indiadisasters.org   :   the one-stop humanitarian site
 

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