RP bans organ transplants to foreigners

In a major policy shift, the Philippine government on Tuesday announced a "total ban" on all organ transplants on foreign nationals in an attempt to curb a flourishing underground kidney trade that often preys on poor, desperate Filipinos.

''Under this directive, all foreigners are banned from accessing organs from Filipino donors,'' Health Secretary Francisco Duque told a news conference.

He stressed the need for ''strict enforcement'' of the impending new rules ''to lessen, if not stop the illegal peddling of human organs.''

''Unscrupulous organizations and business outfits claiming to be associated with the Department of Health in the commercialization of organ transplants under the guise of medical tourism will be met with appropriate penalties and sanctions,'' the department said in a statement.

The new health policy was announced after health workers and civic groups came out to criticize a new administrative order of the Department of Health (DOH) that liberalized transplants on foreigners.

Previously, the government allowed foreigners to have kidney transplants in the Philippines from living non-related Filipino donors.

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