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India to set up human

organ bank

NEW DELHI: The Indian government will soon set up a human organ bank to facilitate transplants for needly patients, official sources said on Friday.

The move is mainly aimed at combating rampant illegal trade in human organs particularly kidneys in the country as well as bringing hopes to more patients who need organ transplants to survive, Indian Health and Family Welfare Minister A.R. Antulay told the parliament.

He assured the House that "strictest action" would be taken against illegal organ brokers and doctors who indulge in the "shameful acts," referring to illegal organ transplants.

He also said that the Authorization Committee for Removal of Organs would be reorganized soon to include social organizations and public workers, thus facilitating the timely removal of organs. The committee was formed to supervise lawful organ transplants and curb illegal flourishing organ trade.

India is one of the developing world's biggest human organ markets. Illegal trade in human organs has been thriving despite an Indian law banning trade in human organs, which was passed by the Indian Parliament on June 14, 1994.-Xinhua