Private organ transplants face ban

Monday August 3rd, 2009

Private transplant operations are set to be banned in Britain as part of a series of measures to ensure patients get "fair" access to donated organs.

The ban, which involves solid organs, is set to be implemented on October 1st.

Transplant centres are also due to get guidance on whether operations can be offered to overseas patients, the British government said.

The proposals come from a report produced to clarify rules on offering transplants to EU citizens and NHS patients. It was published last week by Dame Elizabeth Buggins, former chair of the Organ Donation Taskforce.

The government also agreed to develop a new allocation scheme for donor livers and develop agreements with other European countries on transplantation.

Health minister Ann Keen said: "The report highlights the complexity of European law in this area and we will take immediate action to provide guidance for the transplant community and reassure the public of the integrity of our transplant programme."

Dame Elisabeth said: "This report seeks to make more organs available for UK residents. While I found no evidence of wrongdoing in the way organs are allocated to patients there is a perception that private payments may unfairly influence access to transplant, so they must be banned."

She added: "Confidence in the transplant system should increase once money is removed from the equation, decisions are transparent and accountability clear; confidence we know is necessary if the number of organ donors is to rise to match the best in Europe."

Tags: Internal Medicine | NHS | Transplant | UK News

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