Advisory Council on transplanting human organs

Nadira Gunatilleke

Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena appointed an Advisory Council on transplanting human organs and tissues. The Human Tissue Transplant Act number 48 was passed in Parliament in 1987 but arrangements were not made to appoint the council required by the act, a Health Ministry spokesman said.

According to the spokesman, the newly appointed council will assist to methodically carry out human organs and tissue transplant activities in hospitals. Health services Director General is the chairman of the council.

Operations of the council take place under Health Services Deputy Director General Prof.Mandika Wijeratne. Prof. Vajira Dissanayake, specialist doctors, such as, Dr. Padma Gunaratne, Dr. Charith Fonseka, Chula Herath, A.L.M Nazar, Sandya Seneviratne, H.S.Rajamanthri, Udeni Silva, Jagath Herath and Charitha Fernando are in the Executive Committee, he said.

The council will assist to seek donors, acting within the legal frame and to introduce new amendments to the 1987 Act to amend the act according to present day requirements. Sri Lanka is well ahead among the other Asian countries in relation to organ transplants.

Eye cornea, kidney and liver transplant take place in Sri Lanka successfully, he added.

Minister Sirisena requested specialist doctors to use their knowledge and experiences to educate the public and upgrade the health sector.