ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on National Health Services (NHS) on Wednesday passed a bill which will make it possible for people to donate organs.

Titled The Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues (Amendment) Bill, 2018, the proposed law was moved by Senator Mian Mohammad Ateeq Sheikh. It suggests CNICs should indicate if a person is an organ donor.

Mr Sheikh, who is also chairman of the standing committee, said Sri Lanka has earned respect as the largest eye cornea donor across the world and that Pakistan gets eye cornea donations from various countries.

“A campaign has been started to convince people to donate organs but there is now law in this regard which is why doctors hesitate to remove organs from a deceased person if they left a will to the effect. I have suggested that CNICs should carry a red mark if someone is an organ donor. Therefore, in case of natural death or accidents, doctors will know if someone’s organs should be removed while they are viable,” he said.

Draft law suggests CNICs should indicate if someone is an organ donor

A representative of the Human Organ Transplant Authority said a government bill was also being drafted which also suggests mentioning on CNICs and driving licences if a citizen is an organ donor.

“I suggest the bill should be ignored as the government bill is comprehensive and will be passed soon,” he said.

NHS Minister Aamer Mehmood Kiani also suggested the bill be ignored or clubbed with the government one.

However, Mr Sheikh strictly rejected the suggestion and said there was a ruling by the Senate chairman that private member bills will not be ignored because of government bills.

“A government bill may take two years to pass or it may not be passed at all because the government has to convince the opposition. However, I have assurance from political parties that they will support my bill. Moreover, I have only suggested an amendment in the existing law on human organ transplants and I insist it should be passed,” he said.

Independent Senator Dr Asad Ashraf said the opinion of the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) should be sought as such a bill can trigger criticism in religious circles.

However, Mr Sheikh argued that the CII’s opinion is not required as it is up to the people if they want to donate their organs.

Law Division representative Jam Aslam also said there is no need for input from CII as the Law Division has already worked on the issue when preparing a bill and that a private member bill can also therefore be passed.

Members decided to pass the bill unanimously and it was sent to the upper house for voting.

The organs of one person can be donated to 27 people if someone agrees for their organs to be donated after death but there is no trend or awareness for organ donation in the country. Due to this, human organs are being sold in the black and some health institutions have also been involved in the illegal business.

Fake doctor at Pims

The committee had sought a detailed report over the arrest of a fake doctor from the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims). However, NHS Minister Aamer Kiani was not aware of the incident.

On Sept 26, a man posing as a doctor, who had been ‘practicing’ at for six months at Pims, was arrested. An initial investigation revealed that two post graduates (PG) at the hospital had hired the man, who was a vendor of medicines and instruments, and were paying him to pose as a doctor.

An FIR was registered at the Karachi Company police station but no action was taken against the PGs.

Published in Dawn, November 29th, 2018