The Federal Minister for Health Muhammad Nasir Khan on Thursday said that government would take strict action against illegal transplant centres and hospitals functioning in the country to regulate transplantation of human organs.
Addressing a press conference here, the minister said all such 30 medical institutions and hospitals have been directed to register with Human Organs Transplant Authority otherwise they will face a tough time.
He said the registration process has been started on Thursday and now no hospital or medical institution will be allowed to carry out transplantation of human organ and tissues unless it is recognised for practice of operative surgery in transplantation after registration. He said the authority would prepare list of such hospitals and medical institutions to be recognised for practice of operative surgery in transplantation of human organs and tissue.
Nasir Khan said a system has been made to register all such medical institutions and hospital having transplantation facility, adding, only those medical centres and hospitals will be registered which will meet the criteria.
He added these centres would be allowed to start transplantation after having comprehensive evaluation and inspection while the authority will continuously monitor these centres and hospitals.
Nasir Khan said the monitoring authority on organ transplant has decided that all such companies' websites having advertisements to motivate the people regarding organs' transplantation will be stopped immediately and the ministry will issue notices to them.
He said the monitoring authority was formed to monitor transplantation and enforce prescribed standards for the recognised medical institutions and hospitals. Under the transplantation of human organs and tissue ordinance evaluation committees will be established for every recognised medical institution and hospital where transplantation will be allowed. He added all such hospitals and centres will register every translation case.
The minister said the violators would be punished with imprisonment for a term of 10 years and with fine up to one million rupees. He said besides individual action will also be taken against administrative incharge of such companies to be held responsible in violation of ordinance.
To a question, the minister said the authority, which formed under the Ordinance will take all decisions to control illegal organs' transplantation and its trade in the country. He said all steps are being taken to streamline the transplantation in the country in accordance with the Ordinance and to stop practices of illegal transplant centres and hospitals playing with the health of people.