Prosecutors are investigating a Bucharest clinic and its manager on suspicion of illegally bringing human organs into the country.
The unnamed clinic is suspected of importing a ‘significant’ number of corneas over several years into Romania without the required permit, News.ro reported.
„From 2019-2021, a medical clinic and its administrator… introduced tissues of human origin, namely a significant number of corneas on the territory of Romania, without the authorization of the National Transplant Agency,” a statement from the 1st district Prosecutor’s Office said.
Prosecutors carried out a search at the clinic on Thursday.
There were officially 647 corneal transplants last year in Romania.
Corneal transplantation, also known as corneal grafting, is a surgical procedure where a damaged or diseased cornea is replaced by donated corneal tissue.
When the entire cornea is replaced it is known as penetrating keratoplasty and when only part of the cornea is replaced it is known as lamellar keratoplasty.
