KARACHI, Feb 27: The general body of the Transplant Society of Pakistan (TSP) has criticised the proposed transplant ordinance, saying that some of its clauses will not only promote human organ trade but also legalise commercialism in transplantation, which is largely disliked and discouraged across the globe.

A meeting of the society was held with Prof Farrukh A. Khan (Lahore) in the chair at the Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation (SIUT) on Sunday, which discussed at length the draft of “Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Ordinance, 2007. The draft for the ordinance was approved by the federal cabinet about a fortnight back.

The meeting was informed that the proposed ordinance would allow removal, storage and transplantation of human organs and tissues for treatment of sick and needy patients. Acknowledging the objectives of the ordinance, the general body meeting, however, found some of its clauses flawed.

According to details of the meeting released by the SIUT on Tuesday, the largely attended meeting of transplant surgeons and physicians strongly objected to the clauses pertaining to allowing financial compensation to donors of organs. They also objected to donation of kidney from unrelated and financially poor donors.

The meeting was also critical of the clauses under which donor pool had been broadened and wet-mothers and in-laws were included as donors. The participants feared that the proposed ordinance in its present shape would allow organ trade and would legalise commercialism in transplantation, a practice which was against WHO recommendations on transplantation.

The meeting resolved that it was imperative to remove sections pertaining to payment to unrelated donors. The members of the Pakistan Society of Nephrology (PSN) and Pakistan Association of Urologic Surgeons (PAUS) participated in the meeting and backed the Transplant Society of Pakistan (TSP) demands for amendments in the draft of the ordinance, said a SIUT press release.

The general body also unanimously elected TSP office-bearers: Prof Farrukh A. Khan-president, Prof Adibul Hassan Rizvi-president elect, Prof Saeed Akhter-vice president, Prof Anwer Naqvi-secretary-general and Prof Manzoor Hussain-treasurer.

The councillors are Prof Tufail Mohammad for Punjab, Prof Iffat Yazdani for Sindh, Prof Akhter Ali for the NWFP and Dr Haq Nawaz Mengal for Balochistan.