Moving forward: PHOTA approves amendments to organ transplantation laws

The amendments are a step towards controlling illegal organ transplants

LAHORE: Minister for Specialised Healthcare and Medical Education Khawaja Salman Rafique said the Punjab Human Organs Transplantation Authority (PHOTA) has approved amendments for PHOTA Act which would be sent to the Department of Law for further scrutiny.

The recommended amendments were made to improve the current system thus controlling illegal organ transplants. Rafique said the draft bill would be sent to the Department of Law for further scrutiny before being sent to the Punjab Assembly for a final approval. He said heavy fines have been recommended for violating PHOTO laws.

During the meeting, it was decided to joint programmes and to encourage collaborations with foreign institutions to promote cadaveric transplantation while also creating educating people on organ donation.

The minister also added that recommendations had been put forth to enhance the list of blood relatives to ensure availability of donors. It had been proposed that more maternal and paternal relatives be included in the donor list, he expressed.

PHOTA Director General Prof Faisal Masood, Punjab Healthcare Commission Representative Prof Riaz Tasneem and other officers were also present on the occasion.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 28^th, 2018.