The majority were in favour even of the most controversial proposal to allow the reimbursement of living organ donors.
MORE than eight in 10 Singaporeans support moves to change organ transplant laws to make more organs available and to punish organ traders more severely, a Health Ministry survey has found.
The majority were in favour even of the most controversial proposal to allow the reimbursement of living organ donors.
And when it came to reimbursing organ donors, three in four felt that they should be given at least $50,000.
The other key proposed changes that received support include allowing organs to be donated by those older than 60 years old when they die, setting up a registry to match living organ donors to recipients, and increasing penalties on syndicated organ trading.
The Health Ministry released these findings on Monday.
It said in a statement: 'The ministry is mindful of the sensititivies of payment for organ donation and reaffirms our commitment to prohibit organ trading in Singapore. That is why it is proposing to raise the penalty on middleman and syndicates involved in organ trading.'
It added that it will follow international practices and guidelines in working out a 'legally and ethical scheme' to cover the costs and expenses incurred by living donors so as to remove financial disincentives to organ donation.
The ministry gathered feedback from the public from Nov 14 to Dec 15 through a consultation paper that was posted online, a public dialogue, and a written survey conducted after the dialogue.
More than 200 people and nine medical, professional and non-governmental organisations responded.
