Organ transplant bill re-admitted to Parliament, sent to committee for review

A landmark bill to legalize organ transplants and establish a legal framework for it in the Maldives, which was rejected by President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu due to the omission of key clauses ahead of its passage, was re-admitted to the Parliament on Wednesday and sent to the Social Affairs Committee for review.

The landmark organ transplant bill was passed by the Parliament on May 14. But President Muizzu decided against ratifying it, and sent it back to the Parliament for review on May 31.

President Muizzu later explained to the Parliament that his concerns stemmed from the Parliament’s decision to remove provisions in the original bill drafted by the Attorney General’s Office which barred individuals in state custody, or any individual serving a prison sentence or was detained on suspicion of committing a crime from donating their organs.

He said he does not believe incarcerated individuals can provide truly voluntary, coercion-free consent to donate their organs.

During Wednesday’s sitting, Baarah MP Ibrahim Shujau, the senior deputy leader of ruling People’s National Congress (PNC)’s parliamentary group, proposed re-admitting the bill to the Parliament and sending it to the Social Affairs Committee for review.

The motion was seconded by fellow PNC lawmaker, Hoarafushi MP Ali Moosa, and passed with a unanimous vote of 62.

The bill is designed to allow only living-donor transplants, and establish a legal framework for it.

The bill is also designed to criminalize:

Removing a person’s organ for transplant without consent, or transplanting an organ removed without consent

Selling or buying a human organ or part of an organ

Providing transplant‑related services without a license, submitting false information, or engaging in prohibited activities

The bill stipulates that organ donors must be at least 18 years of age, and of sound mind and willing to donate their organ – free of any coercion.