Changes to Organ Act before Cabinet today

Four years after a committee set up on the directions of the Delhi High Court submitted its report on suggesting a review of the Transplantation of Human Organs Act,1994,the proposed amendments will come up before the Union Cabinet for approval on Thursday.

The amendments will clear the way for swap transplants between relatives of two patients whose organs find a ‘better match’ with an unrelated donor; however,no money can be exchanged between the two families. Besides the term near relative,which forms the basis of who can donate organs to a patient so that illegal trade is curbed,is likely to be expanded to include grandparents and grandchildren. Till now,only a spouse,parents and siblings were allowed to donate organs.

It was also proposed to introduce the concept of ‘required request’,according to which the Central Government will be vested with the power to ask hospitals with ICU to make a request to the patient on or before admission as to whether the person has pledged donation of organ or tissue. To begin with,the required request would be in the case of corneas.

If cleared,the new Act will be called the Transplantation of Human Organs & Tissues Act,1994.