Came across this article while surfing the net. Read it on the papers too...

Channel NewsAsia - Saturday, August 25

SINGAPORE: The Health Ministry hopes to include Muslims under the Human Organ Transplant Act (HOTA) by the end of the year.

But before the law is amended in November, the ministry wants to seek public views on the matter and get feedback on whether it could be given enforcement powers to investigate HOTA-related offences.

Last year, there were 557 persons waiting for a kidney transplant. Among them, 118 (or 21 per cent) were Malays, but only 56 got the transplant.

And of the 418 organ donors from 1988 to June this year, only ten were Muslims.

The proposed changes to HOTA aim to change the situation.

"Part of the reason for doing public consultation is to use the opportunity to re-explain again, what is brain death, what is coma, what is HOTA and why it's good for everybody... Everybody will be treated alike. Then the actual priority in terms of allocation of organs will be purely by tissue type matching, said Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan.

The ministry also hopes that as it amends HOTA, it could also give itself some investigative powers.

Currently, the Health Ministry does not have enforcement powers to fully investigate offences such as trading in organs and blood, disclosure of confidential information obtained under HOTA, and carrying out living donor organ transplant without the authorisation of the Transplant Ethics Committee.

Despite the fact that no one in Singapore has been prosecuted for organ trading, Mr Khaw felt the transfer of powers from the police to the ministry will be timely.

"It's not just organ transplant. Let's say HIV, we do investigate sometimes. Let's say people who are HIV positive, but they go and donate blood," he said.

So that's the philosophy - wherever we can, those that affect health care (we) do the first investigation. I think we want to acquire that kind of capability It's good to build up those investigative powers, Mr Khaw added.


Suppose to meet Audrey today after school. But timing wasn't right, so.... I'm sorry sweetie fren.

Learning malay for the whole of today... other than lesson as norm...
Submitted the Project. FINALLY, It's Over... Yeay!