The Ministry of Health has rejected allegations made on online media websites that it had failed to treat a kidney patient who was to undergo medical treatment as per directives issued by the Supreme Medical Commission.

Haleema J.N., a 41-year-old mother of five, has been suffering from End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) since 2011. The patient, who was at the King Fahd Hospital in Jazan, was transferred for further diagnosis to the King Faisal Specialist Hospital in Riyadh.

A senior official from the Healthy Ministry told Arab News on Tuesday that the patient needed a kidney transplant and was asked to find a donor from among her relatives.

“The procedure of harvesting organs from a patient’s relative is a principle followed by several countries, including the United States and the United Kingdom, to avoid organ trafficking,” he explained.

“It was unfortunate that Haleema could not find a compatible donor from among her relatives. Arrangements were then made to send her to China for further treatment,” he said.

However, the official recalled that the patient could not go to China since she did not follow the procedures required for her to leave the Kingdom for overseas medical treatment.

He reiterated that the media should act more responsibly by releasing statements with accurate facts and figures.