CHENNAI: Since a kidney sale racket was busted in Chennai less than three months ago, the number of applications to the State Authorisation Committee for live-unrelated transplants has come down drastically: from over 20 a week before January 2007, to four or five.

In fact, for a month after the enforcement authorities got into the act, there were no applications at all, informed sources said at the Directorate of Medical Education, which coordinates the activities of the State Authorisation Committee of which the Director is a member. The applications started trickling in from mid-February , but the flow has been weak, officials said.

The office of the State Appropriate Authority used to get several applications every month , at least a minimum of 20. (On an average it clears about 94 per cent of them).

There have been months when the number cleared was as high as 48, as in February 2004, or 43 as in March.

Now great care is taken to screen the applicants, the sources said. This they attribute to the expose, which has put brokers out of work. Now the applicant is also required to submit a letter signed by his or her nephrologist, transplant surgeon and one representative from the hospital, verifying that the documents submitted are accurate.

Apparently, most doctors do not want to sign the certificate and own responsibility. The committee, however, insists on the letter, as they believe no "sale" could take place without the collusion of the hospital and the doctor. This has also resulted in the drop in the number of applications.

The number of applicants from other States has also come down as Tamil Nadu has strengthened its verification procedure. They are required to produce a letter from the District Magistrate concerned, attesting their documents. Only two such applicants have been cleared since January.

The committee has asked hospitals to submit details about every transplant (including live related and cadaveric) that is performed, except for corneal transplants. This will enable it to maintain a record, for the first time, of every transplant in the State.

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