KEY POINTS

• New guidelines for organ transplants will be released by December.
• Policy addresses unethical practice by transplant facilities and mandates compliance.
• National Health Act supports strict standards of organ donations

By December, the Federal Government has announced the commencement of the release of new guidelines on organ donation and transplantation.

Aimed at checking unethical practices and exploitation in this field, on how to deal with unethical practices and exploitation in the field.

The decision follows a workshop in Abuja by the National Tertiary Health Institutions Standards Committee (NTHISC), which validated a draft document on ethics, transplant standards and also donor protections.

Setting ethically sound standards for protecting donors

Dr. Jimoh Salaudeeen, director of hospital services, said the guidelines will soon become policy for all transplant facilities, as they await final approval.

The guidelines will enforce standards in kidney, liver, eye tissue and bone marrow transplants and gamete and embryo donations, he said.

Safe practices in organ transplantation

Furthermore, Mrs Kachollom Daju, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Health urged for tackling unethical practices and exploitation in organ donation.

These new guidelines aim to set best practices, protect vulnerable populations and also promote a humane organ transplantation system throughout Nigeria.

Prof. Philip Abiodun, Chairman of NTHISC, confirmed that the committee would adhere to strict regulation and safety for recipients and donor.