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SINGAPORE: Harsher penalties for organ trade middlemen and compensation for living donors are some of the proposed amendments to the Human Organ Transplant Act (HOTA).
The Ministry of Health (MOH) said that while the draft law does not exclude foreigners from being compensated, the focus will be on Singaporeans and permanent residents.
More than 1,000 people here face organ failure every year and desperation drives some to illegal methods. Each year, 20 to 30 Singaporeans illegally undergo kidney transplant operations abroad.
To raise the organ transplant rate, the Health Ministry intends to change the law.
First, the current age cap of 60 years old will be lifted and this may provide an additional 10 to 12 organ donors per year.
MOH said as the life-expectancy and health of the population continue to improve, the age limit of 60 years set in 1987 as a marker of a person's health in relation to his suitability as a donor is no longer appropriate.
Secondly, the Act will allow for paired matching where donors of patients who are not a good match can give their organs to other patients who also have willing donors.
Thirdly, living donors will be compensated according to accepted international practices. The compensation will cover all costs related to the operation, possible loss of earnings as well as short-term and long-term medical care.
Gerard Ee, chairman, National Kidney Foundation, said: "The term compensation is really more of... ensuring the donor is no worse off and certainly no better off. If it is no better off, then there is no element of trading. But the person should not be worse off for being a donor."
The amount will be determined in a later consultation process after the Act is passed.
The proposed changes also do not exclude foreigners from being compensated.
To protect the welfare of living donors, the Health Ministry may also set up a registry to track their long-term condition.
It is also proposing that donors get priority for transplant organs in the event they develop organ failure.
To deter syndicated organ trading, the penalty for the middlemen is likely to be increased ten-fold. Middlemen will soon be subjected to a maximum fine of S$100,000 or a jail term not more than 10 years, or both.
Previously, there was no distinction made between the middlemen, the buyer and the seller, and the penalty was set at a maximum fine of S$10,000 or a jail term of not more than one year, or both.
Feedback on the proposed amendments will be open for public consultation from November 14 and can be given at www.moh.gov.sg. - CNA/vm
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