Human organ trade 'almost zero' in last 6 months - DSWD
12/07/2009 | 02:03 AM
Almost six months after it started enforcing a law against the rampant sale of human organs, the government has claimed an “almost zero incidence" of organ trafficking since late June.
Social Welfare Secretary Esperanza Cabral said only one case of human organ trafficking is under investigation.
“The transplant surgeon in question and his assistants have been suspended from performing transplant surgery in the Mindanao hospital and the hospital has been ordered by the Department of Health to cease and desist from performing transplant operations while the case is under investigation," Cabral said in the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Web site.
Government started enforcing the implementing rules and regulations of the anti-human trafficking law’s provisions on the sale of human organs last June 21. Cabral co-chairs the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) with Justice Undersecretary Ricardo Blancaflor.
“Our advocacy efforts have paid off. We have stopped the sale of human organs dead on its tracks and have prevented further exploitation of the poor," Cabral said.
She added the positive result was made possible with the earnest support of the Philippine Society of Nephrology headed by Dr. Benita Padilla and Dr. Alberto Chua, who gave substantial inputs in the crafting of the IRR.
The IRR states that no foreigner may receive an organ transplant from a living non-related Filipino donor. It also emphasizes that the selling or buying of human organs is strictly prohibited.
However, the right of transplantation of voluntary and altruistically donated human organs for therapeutic purposes is not hampered.
To monitor and regulate organ donation, the IRR requires all hospital administrators to submit a monthly report to the DOH on the transplantation performed.
Also, the law imposes up to 20 years imprisonment and a fine of between P1 and 2 million on anyone found guilty of engaging in the “buy and sell" of human organs. - KBK, GMANews.TV
Social Welfare Secretary Esperanza Cabral said only one case of human organ trafficking is under investigation.
“The transplant surgeon in question and his assistants have been suspended from performing transplant surgery in the Mindanao hospital and the hospital has been ordered by the Department of Health to cease and desist from performing transplant operations while the case is under investigation," Cabral said in the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Web site.
Government started enforcing the implementing rules and regulations of the anti-human trafficking law’s provisions on the sale of human organs last June 21. Cabral co-chairs the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) with Justice Undersecretary Ricardo Blancaflor.
“Our advocacy efforts have paid off. We have stopped the sale of human organs dead on its tracks and have prevented further exploitation of the poor," Cabral said.
She added the positive result was made possible with the earnest support of the Philippine Society of Nephrology headed by Dr. Benita Padilla and Dr. Alberto Chua, who gave substantial inputs in the crafting of the IRR.
The IRR states that no foreigner may receive an organ transplant from a living non-related Filipino donor. It also emphasizes that the selling or buying of human organs is strictly prohibited.
However, the right of transplantation of voluntary and altruistically donated human organs for therapeutic purposes is not hampered.
To monitor and regulate organ donation, the IRR requires all hospital administrators to submit a monthly report to the DOH on the transplantation performed.
Also, the law imposes up to 20 years imprisonment and a fine of between P1 and 2 million on anyone found guilty of engaging in the “buy and sell" of human organs. - KBK, GMANews.TV
