Coverage of the Policy
- Applies to kidney donors and recipients
- Covers health professionals and individuals involved in transplantation
- Encompasses all health facilities and Department of Health offices
- Includes government and non-governmental organizations supporting transplantation
Key Definitions
- Living Related Donors (LRDs): includes close blood relatives and culturally recognized kinship
- Living Non Related Donors (LNRDs): donors not related by blood but donating voluntarily or for commercial reasons
- Voluntary Donors: emotionally related or altruistic individuals without expectation of payment
- Kidney Vendors: donors receiving payment or acting via brokers, prohibited by policy
General Policy Statements
- Living non-related donations allowed only if voluntary, no commercial transactions
- Sale or purchase of kidneys strictly prohibited and punishable
- Health facilities must refuse trade of kidney vendors
- Policy guided by principles of equity, justice, benevolence, nonmaleficence, solidarity, altruism, and volunteerism
- Facilities required to implement quality standards and medical ethical guidelines
- Establishment of Organ Donation Program (ODP) and National Ethics Committee for oversight
Operational Mechanism: Roles and Responsibilities
Department of Health (DOH):
- Organ Donation Program (ODP) under Health Operations Cluster
- Formulate policies and coordinate with transplant institutes and professionals
- Advisory Board includes diverse stakeholders
- National Transplant Ethics Committee (NTEC) sets ethical standards
- Kidney Donor Monitoring Unit maintains transplant registries
- Annual funding provision and resource mobilization
Bureau of Health Facilities and Services (BHFS):
- Licensing and regulation of transplant facilities
- Enforces facility capability standards including immunosuppressive monitoring and ethics committees
- Collaborates with ODP to keep standards updated
Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (Philhealth):
- Accredits transplant facilities
- Monitors performance and utilization reviews
- Coordinates with BHFS for consistent regulation
Health and Health-Related Facilities:
- Must develop programs supporting renal health and transplantation
- Establish Ethics Committee to resolve donation-related ethical issues
- Maintain Donors/Recipients Registry and report regularly to Kidney Donor Monitoring Unit
- Organ Transplant Unit to oversee patient education and clinical follow-ups
Monitoring and Evaluation
- Led by Undersecretary of Health Operations Cluster
- Collaboration with independent bodies and professional societies
- Development of programs to attain world-class renal care standards
Sanctions and Penalties
- Enforcement through DOH and Philhealth licensing rules
- Professional sanctions via Professional Regulations Commission and medical societies
Repealing Clause
- Existing inconsistent provisions repealed
Effectivity
- Immediate effect upon issuance
- Specific operational guidelines to be formulated for smooth implementation