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By Rommel C. Lontayao, Reporter
WHILE the government has only banned organ
transplants benefiting foreign patients, the Department of Health on
Saturday said extending the ban to Filipino organ donors who are not
related to organ recipients could also be possible.
Health Secretary Francisco Duque 3rd pointed out
that though the number of foreign transplants in the country is
rapidly increasing, the huge number of local patients still
contributes to the blackmarket sale of internal organs.
“In doing so, the revised administrative order
will set the general guidelines and ethical principles whereby the
act of donation and conduct of transplantation using non-related
donors are managed and regulated,” Duque said.
The Health chief added that to lessen the
problem of the illegal trade of organs, the Health department, in
cooperation with other government agencies and local government
units, will lead an information campaign to educate the poor
communities on the possible consequences of donating one of their
organs.
Organ-trafficking syndicates reportedly recruit
donors in exchange for fees, ranging from P100,000 to P300,000.
“We have to educate these poor people for them
to take good care of their organs,” Duque said. “God gave us two
kidneys so that when one already starts to fail, the other one will
still be utilized by the body.”
“Organ donation is being promoted only among
well-informed, free-willing and altruistic donors without any
monetary reward or improper and unethical inducements,” he added.
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