New Delhi, July 4: Months after the kidney racket was busted in Gurgaon earlier this year, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has proposed stringent amendments to the Transplantation of Human Organ Act, 1994. Besides seeking to increase the punishment to offenders under the Act, the amendments also put curbs on foreigners who come to India for organ transplants.

The Ministry has proposed that foreigners who want organ transplants should be required to get donors from their country, with proof that the donor is a relative. “At times, it has been seen that they get Indian donors and vanish after the procedure is done. It will be made mandatory for them to get donors from their own country now,” said a senior ministry official.

According to doctors, foreigners account for 30-40 per cent of the transplants — usually kidney or liver — in India. There is also a proposal to increase the prison term for those booked under the Act from the present three-five years to five-10 years. For those found to be involved in a commercial kidney racket, the term has been increased from seven to 10 years, with the fine ranging from Rs 5 lakh-20 lakh.

The amendments, which will be sent to the Cabinet for approval, also put restrictions on organ donation by children. “The government will identify special cases, like where the bone marrow is required, in which such donations will be allowed. Otherwise, it will be completely restricted,” added the official.

All hospitals registered for the purpose of organ donation will have a transplant coordinator to interact with the donor and recipient’s family. The government is also planning to come up with a national registry of organs, which will have details furnished by various hospitals.

CRACKING DOWN ON ORGAN TRADE

The Govt is ready with amendments to give more teeth to the Transplantation of Human Organ Act, 1994.

• Foreigners coming to India for any organ transplant will be required to get donors from their country with the proof that the person is their relative.

• Quantum of punishment for removal of organ without authorization to increase: from five years to 10 years.

• For doctors, donors, recipients involved in unauthorized transplant: From 3-5 years to 5-10 years; Fine from Rs 10,000 to Rs 5 lakh.

• For those involved in trade: from 7 years to 10 years, fine from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 20 lakh.

• Curb on transplant involving child donors.