MORE than eight in 10 people here support moves to change transplant laws to make more organs available, and punish organ traders more severely, a Health Ministry survey has found.

Eight in 10 were in favour of even the most controversial proposal of reimbursing living organ donors - but only for their loss of income, as well as direct and future expenses related to the donation, and not for any profit.

Three in four said the total should amount to at least $50,000.

The resounding approval to reimburse altruistic donors suggests there will be no barriers from the public in moving forward on the changes.

Releasing the findings yesterday, the ministry said it would work out a reasonable sum based on international guidelines, and consider the feedback when refining the Human Organ Transplant Act (Hota) Amendment Bill.

The Bill is expected to be introduced in Parliament early this year.

Over a month from Nov 14, the ministry gathered feedback from more than 200 people and nine medical and professional groups through online public consultation, a dialogue, and a written survey.

More than nine in 10 agreed to raising penalties by 10 times on syndicated organ trading, so that organ traders can expect up to $100,000 in fines or a jail term of up to to 10 years or both.

But the ministry did not see eye to eye with feedback on compensating only local, and not foreign, donors, to remove inducement for people in poorer countries to give up their organs.

It said it would issue guidelines to hospitals' transplant ethics committees to help them decide on a reasonable amount to reimburse foreigners without their profiting from the donation.

Among other proposals that received public backing was allowing the use of organs from donors who are older than 60 years at the time of death.

Under the existing Act, the kidneys, livers, corneas and hearts of Singaporeans and permanent residents can be taken for transplant, unless they have opted out, if they die between the ages of 21 and 60 only.

Some people were concerned that the quality of organs from older donors would be compromised by age or disease, and that young recipients would outlive them. The ministry said yesterday that only organs fit for transplant would be used for suitable recipients.

Most respondents also approved of allowing 'pair-matched donations'. This involves setting up a registry to match pairs of living organ donors who are incompatible with their intended recipients, with similar pairs.

The ministry said it would allow matching pairs to carry out operations simultaneously, to prevent the donor from one side backing out.

Health-care professionals and watchdogs cheered the solid support.

The feedback means that there was 'no disagreement on how to go forward', said Associate Professor Goh Lee Gan, who heads the College of Family Physicians.

It also reflects the public's concern with the increasing numbers of kidney failure cases, noted Madam Halimah Yacob, chairman of the Government Parliamentary Committee for Health. About 520 people were waiting for a transplant as of October last year.

huichieh@sph.com.sg