Prof. Rizvi Shariff files case against Ministry of Health for manipulative Kidney Scam charges

December 24, 2022, Colombo: Professor Rizvi Sharif has said in a petition filed at the Court of Appeal against the Ministry of Health that allegations against the Western Private Hospital Colombo, including kidney fraud and extortion, are part of a planned manipulative media agenda.
The petitioner further said in the petition that following the Easter Sunday blasts, his hospital was targeted several times with false allegations, which were later proved to be false.
While denying all the allegations related to the alleged illegal kidney trade by deceiving the poor, the Western Private Hospital, located at Kota Road Colombo, has appealed to the court against the ban imposed by the Ministry of Health to suspend organ transplants at its hospital temporarily.
Professor Rizvi Sharif, head of the Western Hospital, has filed a writ of mandamus in the Court of Appeal, and the Director General of Health Services has been named as the respondent in the petition.
This petition was considered on the 16th before a bench comprising Justices Sobitha Rajakaruna and Tammika Kanepola of the court of appeal. Under the instructions of the Neelakandan Law Firm, President Counsel Faiz Musthafa and a group of layers appeared for the petitioner.
After examining the issues brought before it, the court of appeal ordered the Director of Health Services to immediately investigate the interests of the two kidney patients currently being treated at the Western Private Hospital.
In the petition filed, the petitioner, Professor Rizvi Sharif, mentioned that he was instrumental in carrying out the first kidney transplant in Sri Lanka in October 1985 and has performed more than 1000 kidney transplants.
The petitioner said that all kidney transplants by Western Hospital are carried out under clear, transparent, and established legal procedures. The petitioner stated in the petition that the entire incident, including the kidney scam and extortion, was the subject of a planned, manipulative media agenda.
The petitioner stated in the petition that the hospital always follows all health guidelines and procedures and has conducted kidney transplants only with the permission of the Ministry. The Court of Appeal decided to consider the petition on January 16, 2023.