MANILA — The Department of Health reminds public that human organs are not for sale, highlighting the importance of undergoing existing proper channels and procedures.
Health Undersecretary Dr. Albert Domingo, head of the agency’s Essential Life-Saving Services Cluster emphasized the role of one of its pillars, the Philippine Network for Organ Sharing (PhilNOS) in raising awareness on organ donation and ethical allocation of human organs.
The network establishes a system of timely referral and processing of potential multiple organ donors, equitable allocation and efficient procurement and transplantation of organs from them.
“Hindi po binibenta ang mga organs, dapat po hindi binibenta, tanggihan po natin kapag inaalok po tayo dahil ito po ay isang bagay na seryosong pinag-uusapan,” Domingo said in an interview with state-run media PTV Friday, October 2.
Domingo took note of the National Kidney and Transplant Institute’s advisory last month reminding the public that references to the sale of kidneys should be treated with care.
This comes in the wake of recent social media trend in which some personalities humorously suggest selling or giving up a kidney in exchange for gadgets, at times accompanied by edited or Al-generated images.
“Uulitin ko, hindi ho maganda iyong biruan ‘no na may lumabas na bagong cellphone ay magbibenta ako ng bato. Huwag hong ganoon, huwag ganoon. Sabi noong mga bata ngayon ‘no. Dapat po seryoso tayo dahil ito ay regalo ng buhay,” the DOH official stated.