Organ donations do not involve payment

THE National Department of Health has rejected social media posts claiming money can be made from donating organs in South Africa.

Organ donation came under the spotlight when a social media post, seen making the rounds on Facebook and Twitter recently, stated that money could be made through organ donation.

The post, purportedly from the National Department of Health, claimed members of the public would be paid to donate vital organs and “get money out of it”.

Speaking to the Dispatch, national health communications director Popo Maja said the image was “absolutely false information”.

“The image claiming the department is collecting body parts in exchange for money is a scam. The department is not in the business of selling or buying body parts for any reason.”

Trading in human organs was an “illegal, punishable criminal offence”, Popo added.

“Such claims are nothing but a scam that will encourage mutilation with the hope of making quick cash.

“The minister, on the advice of a ministerial committee on organ donation, has to satisfy himself that there is no financial transaction involved in the donation.”

Furthermore, Maja asserted that organ donors did not get any financial reimbursements from donating to the public and private health sector.

“We call upon the public not to fall for this scam. Anyone found in possession of body parts will be arrested.”

Stasha Jordan, executive director of the South African Breastmilk Reserve, a non-profit organisation that is a humanmilk banking partner for the National Health Department, and accepts donations of breastmilk, said: “We need to be very cautious when making claims that there’s money to be made from organ donating. This opens a can of worms which could lead to people being abducted and exploited for their organs. The illegal trafficking of organs is very much a reality, and it is closely linked to human trafficking.”

Jordan said information that money could be made from organ donating was misleading, as donating was something done out of “free will”.

“When you donate, you give freely for altruistic purposes. It is illegal to sell any human organs in our country. When you donate, it’s not for profit. You can’t claim anything from it, that’s why you’re called a donor.”