Bill developed to lower minimum age of organ donors

Lawmakers J.Chinburen, N.Uchral and Ts.Tuvaan handed over a draft amendment to the Law on Donors to Speaker of Parliament G.Zandanshatar last Friday.

The law was approved in 2000, amended in 2012 and revised in 2018. It regulates relations related to the promotion of donor activities and provides for a voluntary donation of blood, cells, tissues and organs, and analysis, storage, transportation and use of blood, blood products, cells and organs for medical purposes. The revised law provides for organ donation after brain death.

Bill initiators explained that although the Law on Donors has been amended twice, it does not fully meet the current requirements, so there is an urgent need to amend some relations.

The draft amendment includes lowering the minimum age requirement for organ donors and details of support for families of brain-dead organ donors. In specific, lawmakers pointed out that a legal environment will be created for Mongolian citizens who have reached the age of 21 to donate their organs on a voluntary basis. Under the current law, only people over the age of 25 can donate organs.

Moreover, the bill stipulates that the Social Insurance Fund will provide financial support for the funeral allowance of brain-dead organ donors. Living donors will be entitled to free treatment and rest at a local sanatorium once a year.

In accordance with the bill, a professional ethics committee will be established under the state central administrative body in charge of health and a unified donor registration database will be created.

Parliamentarians believe that the adoption of the bill will improve cell, tissue and organ transplant care and services, reduce the outflow of money for medical purposes, and ensure the right of citizens to live and receive medical care.