Myanmar Villagers Turn to Illegal Kidney Sales Amid Economic Hardship
Desperation Drives Organ Trade
"I just wanted to own a house and pay off my debts - that's why I decided to sell my kidney," confesses Zeya, a farm worker in Myanmar struggling under immense financial strain.
After a military coup in 2021 led to economic collapse and civil war, prices soared, leaving many families in dire straits. Zeya, whose name has been changed for anonymity, could barely afford to feed his family and was drowning in debt. Living with his mother-in-law in a small village near Yangon, he knew of locals who had sold their kidneys and still appeared healthy. Inspired by their survival, he began searching for a way to do the same.
Zeya is among eight villagers who told BBC Burmese they had sold their kidneys after traveling to India, shedding light on the illegal organ trade that persists across Asia.
How the Deals Are Arranged
Despite being illegal in both Myanmar and India, the sale of human organs continues through an underground network. Zeya found a broker who arranged medical tests and soon identified a potential recipient—a Burmese woman in need of a transplant. The broker facilitated their journey to India, using fraudulent documentation to bypass legal barriers.
In India, organ donations between non-relatives require proof of an altruistic relationship. The broker forged official household documents, falsely listing Zeya as a relative of the recipient by marriage. A meeting in Yangon was arranged where a man, introducing himself as a doctor, completed further paperwork. According to Zeya, this man warned him of severe financial penalties if he backed out of the procedure.
The BBC later contacted this individual, who claimed his role was only to assess whether donors were medically fit for surgery, not to verify relationships.
Zeya was promised 7.5 million Myanmar kyats (valued between $1,700 and $2,700 in recent years, depending on fluctuating exchange rates). He traveled to northern India for surgery at a large hospital, where he underwent an interview with an authorisation committee. Speaking through a translator, he was asked whether he was donating voluntarily. Sticking to the broker’s fabricated story, he confirmed that he was giving his kidney to a relative. The surgery was then approved.
He recalls being administered anesthesia before losing consciousness and waking up in pain but with no major complications. He remained in the hospital for a week before being discharged.
A System of Deception
Another donor, Myo Win (also a pseudonym), shared a similar experience. He, too, was instructed to memorize fabricated details about his relationship with the recipient. The broker even arranged a fake mother to take a verification call from authorities, falsely confirming consent for the procedure.
Like Zeya, Myo Win was promised 7.5 million kyats but had to pay 10% of it to the broker. He received a third of the payment in advance, which weighed heavily on his mind as he entered the operating room. "I had already taken their money, so I had no choice," he said. His motivation was clear—he was struggling to cover his debts and medical expenses for his wife.
Since the coup, Myanmar’s unemployment rate has skyrocketed, and poverty levels have doubled from 25% in 2017 to 50% in 2023, according to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Myo Win claims he was never informed that selling a kidney was illegal. "I wouldn’t have done it if I knew. I’m afraid of going to prison," he said.
Another anonymous source admitted to helping around ten people buy or sell kidneys in India, referring them to an "agency" in Mandalay. He described an organized system in which documents were routinely falsified to create the illusion of family relationships. When asked if he profited from the transactions, he declined to answer.
Illegal Kidney Trade in India
Illegal organ sales remain a global concern, with an estimated 5-10% of transplanted organs coming from the black market, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The true number could be even higher.
India, a hub for medical tourism, has witnessed increasing cases of illegal transplants. Last July, Indian police arrested seven people linked to a kidney trafficking ring, including a doctor, Vijaya Rajakumari, and her assistant. The accused allegedly arranged for impoverished Bangladeshis to sell their kidneys using forged documents.
Dr. Rajakumari, who previously worked at Indraprastha Apollo Hospital in Delhi, allegedly performed the procedures at Yatharth Hospital. However, her lawyer refutes the allegations, claiming she only conducted legally approved transplants. Apollo Hospitals later severed ties with her.
In response to rising concerns, India’s health ministry issued a directive last year urging better monitoring of foreign organ transplants. Under Indian law, foreign donors and recipients must have their relationship verified by their embassy in India, but loopholes remain exploitable.
The BBC reached out to India’s health ministry, the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization, and Myanmar’s military government for comment but received no response.
A Costly Choice
Dr. Thurein Hlaing Win, a public health advocate in Myanmar, warns that donors may not fully understand the health risks involved. Potential complications include excessive bleeding, organ damage, and long-term health issues.
Months after his surgery, Zeya reported persistent back pain. "I managed to clear my debts and bought land," he said. However, he couldn’t afford to build a house and remained in financial difficulty.
Despite his struggles, he expressed no regrets. "I have to return to work soon. If the side effects strike again, I’ll deal with it."
Meanwhile, the recipient, who also spoke to the BBC anonymously, claimed she had paid around 100 million kyats ($22,000-$35,000) for the procedure and denied any document forgery. "Zeya is my relative," she insisted.
Six months after his surgery, Myo Win admitted that while he had settled most of his debts, he was jobless and penniless. He had also begun experiencing stomach problems. Initially resolute, he later reconsidered: "I tell others not to do this. It is not worth it."
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