The Federal Government has launched new standards and guidelines for organ and tissue transplantation services in Nigeria to ensure ethical practices and enhance donor and patient protection.
Minister of State for Health, Iziaq Salako, announced this during the official launch of the document on Thursday in Abuja, describing it as a major step toward improving organ donation and transplantation in the country.
According to a statement by the ministry’s spokesperson, Alaba Balogun, Salako emphasized that the guidelines were developed through extensive collaboration with healthcare professionals, legal experts, and other key stakeholders.
“This initiative is a testament to our commitment to saving lives through ethical practices and robust oversight mechanisms,” the minister said, highlighting the urgent need for regulations following recent cases of unethical organ harvesting.
Key areas covered in the guidelines include ethics in transplantation, donor protection, patient safety, and minimum standards for organ transplant procedures. To ensure compliance, the government will certify health institutions involved in transplantation and establish a national organ donation and transplantation registry.
The initiative aims to restore public trust in organ donation by promoting transparency, accountability, and adherence to international best practices.