New UAE law to prevent organ trafficking

The UAE is one of the first countries in the region to criminalise organ trafficking.- Alamy Image

Abu Dhabi - UAE leaders have authorised a Council of Ministers to establish a National Centre for Organ Transplantation.

The UAE has issued regulations to govern organ transplantation, ruling out the possibilities of organ trafficking in the country,
The rules are applicable at all stages of organ donation including conservation, transportation and transplantation. The regulation also aims at protecting the rights of organ recipients and preventing the exploitation of both recipients and donors.
The announcement was made by the Ministry of Health and Prevention during a press conference held in Abu Dhabi to shed light on the National Programme for Organ Transplantation.
The UAE is one of the first countries in the region to criminalise organ trafficking because it represents a profanation of human dignity.
Brigadier-General Hamad Ajlan Al Amimi, director-general of the Federal Criminal Police at the UAE Ministry of Interior, said that the ministry contributed to the development of a comprehensive national strategy to combat human trafficking and have programme and mechanisms implemented in coordination with authorities concerned in the UAE.
"The Federal Law No. 51 of 2006, amended by Law No. 1 of 2015, says that the removal of organs and trafficking them is a crime and is punishable by law, as it can cause injury to the victim because of the crime, or a disease that cannot be cured or leave the victim permanently disabled," he added.
"We are keen to coordinate with the government entities to raise awareness on such acts that fall under criminal liability through the illegal sale or transplantation of organs. The ministry is keen on its strategy to participate in campaigns that promote proper behavior abiding by the law," said Al Amimi.
Dr Amin Hussein Al Amiri, assistant undersecretary for the ministry's public health policy and licensing, said that Federal Decree No. 5 of 2016, which is in line with the latest international health standards, provides a legislative framework for transplantation.
"The UAE is fully committed to criminalising organ trafficking, saying it is a violation of human dignity," he said.
He also pointed out that organ transplantation is a sustainable solution that benefits patients suffering from cancer, heart disease, pulmonary failure, hepatic fibrosis, and renal failure, among others.
Dr Al Amiri added that the UAE leaders have authorised a Council of Ministers to establish a National Centre for Organ Transplantation.
Dr Ali Abdulkarim Al Obaidli, chairman of the National Committee for Organ Transplantation, said that six cases of donation have been done in the country with the first organ harvest being from a deceased patient at Al Qasimi Hospital, where he saved five lives. The second procedure was from Fujairah hospital, where the donation saved 3 lives. The third case had saved three people and had made the first heart transplant possible in the country. The fourth was an organ donation at the Saudi German Hospital from a two-week-old girl, where after her death, her parents donated her kidneys, which reflects the depth of their humanity and desire to save another life.
Since the enactment of the law and issuance of the regulation, the country recently recorded six deceased donors who donated organs to save the lives of 22 patients. There are four licensed health facilities for transplantation - SKMC, Cleveland Clinic Hospital, City Medical Clinic and Al Jalila Specialist Hospital for Children.

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