By EuAsiaNews,
Brussels : The European Parliament (EP) called on the European Commission and European Union (EU) member states Tuesday to take measures to prevent “transplant tourism”, and to draw up guidelines to protect the poorest and most vulnerable donors from being victims of organ trafficking.
The EP adopted a report which stresses that organ donation must stay “strictly non-commercial” and should be made altruistically and voluntarily, ruling out payments between donors and recipients.
Compensation should be possible only to make good expenses and inconveniences related to the donation. “Any commercial exploitation of organs is unethical and inconsistent with the most basic human values,” noted the Members of the European Parliament (MEPs).
Although the use of human organs for transplantation has steadily increased in recent years across the EU, the number of people requiring a transplant is still greater than the number of organs available for transplant.
The report drafted by Cypriot MEP Adamos Adamou says that currently many thousands of patients in Europe, with a significant mortality rate, are registered on waiting lists.
“10 people die, waiting for an organ donation, ” he said.
Moreover, the report urges the 27 EU member states to take necessary measures to prevent insurance companies reimbursing costs incurred in obtaining illegal organ transplantation.