Organ transplantation Ordinance: Punjab government directs hospitals to implement law

Secretary Health Muhammad Jehanzaib Khan has issued instructions to all principals of autonomous Medical Institutions, Medical Superintendents of teaching hospitals, heads of Special Health Institutions, all Executive District Officers (Health) and Medical Superintendents of DHQ and THQ Hospitals in the province to check the violations of Transplantation of Human Organs & Tissues Ordinance 2007 and directed to ensure immediate implementation of this ordinance in letter and spirit.
In a circular letter issued by the health department, all concerned officers have been directed to identify all venues where illegal organ transplant is taking place surreptitiously and register FIR against the perpetrators of this heinous crime. They have been further advised to launch an awareness campaign about health and legal hazards involved in sale of human organs with the co-operation of NGOs and other civil society organisations.
Besides, they were asked to keep a strict watch on persons including surgeons and other health related officials as well as around major hospitals/transplant centres involved in illegal business. Concerned officers have been further directed to identify the elements involved in this illegal business and take practical steps against these elements with the co-operation of special branch and other intelligence agencies.
It is pertinent to mention that sale/donation of human organs for payment is prohibited under Transplantation of Human Organs & Tissues Ordinance 2007. A monitoring authority "Human Organ Transplant Authority" (HOTA) has been established for enforcement of the Act. Under this ordinance, donation of human organs or kidneys is to be on voluntary basis from "close blood relatives" and only in exceptional cases from other than close relatives after verification by the Evaluation Committee.