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SINGAPORE: Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan has said Singapore may consider legalising the sale of organs if there are safeguards against the exploitation of the poor.
Mr Khaw, speaking at a community event on Sunday, said more talks would also help Singaporeans reach a consensus on the issue.
He added that more than one work group will be needed to study the issue.
The debate over legalising organ trade came into the limelight recently after two Indonesians were jailed for selling their kidneys in Singapore.
One of the alleged buyers is well-known Singaporean retailer Tang Wee Sung.
Under Singapore's Human Organ Transplant Act (HOTA), kidneys, hearts, livers and corneas can be harvested from those who die in accidents or are certified brain dead.
But Mr Khaw said there is a shortage of living donors in Singapore who are willing to donate their organs to relatives with kidney failure.
He said: "In countries like Norway, when patients have kidney failure, the doctors will straightaway ask, which family member is going to donate (their kidney). And you see the whole family putting up their hands - grandmothers, grandfathers, grandchildren - everyone offers (their kidney). In the case of Singapore, I asked our doctors, (and they said) first, not many put up their hands. And, (among) the few families that do put up their hands, very few family members put up their hands."
Mr Khaw believed this shortage has led to some people buying organs illegally from neighbouring countries, creating a black market where the poor could be exploited.
That is a problem that must be addressed if Singapore allows organ sale.
Mr Khaw said: "The key problem is exploitation. So if you can find a way to eliminate exploitation or minimise exploitation to a low level, isn't that a better outcome, than pretending that the problem doesn't exist but the exploitation continues?"
Mr Khaw also touched on the recent issue of Venerable Shi Ming Yi, who has been charged in court with forgery and misuse of donations.
Ming Yi was the chief executive officer of Ren Ci, one of Singapore's largest charities.
Mr Khaw said his ministry has proposed two names to Ren Ci to replace Ming Yi as CEO.
The Health Ministry has also offered to take over the management of the charity in the interim. But, Ren Ci has yet to respond to the offer.
- CNA/ir
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