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Philippines bans sale of organs to foreigners

The Philippines has banned the sale of organs to foreigners following a surge in illegal kidney trading, the health secretary said on Tuesday.

  • Agencies
  • Published: 13:44 April 29, 2008
  • Gulf News

Manila: The Philippines has banned the sale of organs to foreigners following a surge in illegal kidney trading, the health secretary said on Tuesday.

Francisco Duque said the government was also revising its policy on organ transplants and was promoting the use of organs from dead bodies or for living related donors to discourage illegal trade.

"They feast on our poverty," Duque told a news conference, saying the donors, frequently impoverished and ill-educated, were getting as little as $1,000 to $5,000 for a kidney.

A kidney transplant operation can cost up to $11,900 at a state hospital. Hundreds of foreigners have come to the Philippines for such transplants, attracted by low prices.

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