September 05, 2007	Wednesday	Sha'aban 22, 1428

ISLAMABAD, Sept 4: Things appear to be on the fast track for the hitherto ignored legislation on organ trade and transplantation as the National Assembly’s standing committee on health unanimously approved the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Bill 2007 on Tuesday, just a day after the government promulgated it.

The government had so far been dragging its feet on the legislation and President Pervez Musharraf had promulgated the ordinance on Monday, on the last day of the one-month deadline given by the Supreme Court for enacting legislation aimed at regulating transplantation of human organs and curbing the thriving kidney trade in the country.

The NA committee approved the bill in just one sitting without any changes. The bill was tabled by the government in the Assembly on August 17, the last day of its previous session, which move was perceived widely as yet another delaying tactic.

It is interesting to note that the bill, moved previously on five instances as private members’ legislation, could not make it beyond the standing committee stage because of intense opposition from the lobby opposing the law.

The brisk approval by the standing committee has given rise to the hope that the National Assembly may approve it in its next session.

Standing Committee’s chairperson Dr Hajra Tariq Aziz, while commending the members for an instant approval, said the legislation should have been adopted long ago.

Meanwhile, the health ministry has started making arrangements for the implementation of the ordinance and has convened the meeting of the Monitoring Authority next Monday to frame rules and regulations for regulating transplantation.

The Monitoring Authority has been constituted under the ordinance as the focal body for running the transplant affairs in the country.

The Authority, to be headed by the federal health secretary, includes surgeon general of Pakistan Army, president of the transplantation society, executive director of Pakistan Medical Research Council, president of society of transplant physicians and surgeons, president of ophthalmological society, president of Pakistan Medical Association, president of society of gastroenterology and outstanding specialists to be nominated by the government.