The Nigerian Federal Government has announced plans to unveil new policy guidelines on organ donation and transplantation by the end of December. This decision comes amid increasing concerns over irregularities and exploitation in the field, with officials attributing the problem to both public ignorance and criminal activities by syndicates.
During a one-day stakeholder workshop in Abuja, the guidelines, developed by the National Tertiary Health Institutions Standards Committee (NTHISC), were reviewed and validated by key healthcare experts and stakeholders. The draft covers a range of critical areas, including ethics in organ transplantation, kidney and liver transplants, eye tissue, and bone marrow transplants, as well as gamete and embryo donation, storage, and surrogacy.
Dr. Jimoh Salaudeen, Director of Hospital Services and Secretary of NTHISC, confirmed that the guidelines are almost finalized. “The draft is complete, and this gathering was meant to validate it with the insights of other experts,” he said. Once the guidelines receive approval from the Minister of Health and the President, they will become mandatory for all healthcare facilities engaged in organ transplantation.
The guidelines, developed as part of the National Health Act 2014, are expected to be rolled out within the next month, with compliance monitoring starting shortly thereafter. Dr. Salaudeen stated, “After the finalization and rollout, monitoring will begin within a month to ensure strict adherence.”
The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Mrs. Kachollom Daju, emphasized the urgency of these guidelines, citing recent troubling cases of unregulated organ harvesting in the country. “The reality of unethical practices is upon us, and it is crucial to address these challenges promptly,” she noted.
Mrs. Daju highlighted the importance of collaborative input from various stakeholders, aiming for the guidelines to provide a robust framework to safeguard public health. She expressed appreciation for NTHISC’s extensive efforts, stating, “Their commitment to ethical standards will help address immediate and future challenges in organ donation and transplantation.”
NTHISC Chairman, Prof. Philip Abiodun, underscored the significance of the guidelines for safeguarding vulnerable populations and improving national health outcomes. He pointed to the committee’s responsibility, as mandated by Section 54(3) of the National Health Act 2014, to establish approval criteria and certification processes for organ transplant facilities.
“The guidelines are part of a broader effort to embed a culture of compliance within tertiary health institutions. Through these regulations, we aim to ensure the safety of both donors and recipients in Nigeria,” Prof. Abiodun said, adding that upon validation, these guidelines would be shared with all tertiary health institutions for mandatory adherence.
The government’s move reflects its commitment to establishing best practices in organ donation and transplantation, ultimately aiming to enhance health outcomes and ethical standards across Nigeria’s healthcare system.
