Speaking at the opening ceremony of a new unit at Gazi University's dentistry faculty, Akdağ said the ministry was considering prohibiting organ transfers between individuals who are not related as a measure to protect healthy donors who are selling organs in return for money. Akdağ said the ministry was reviewing every possible option in order to fight the illegal organ trade. “For transfers between individuals who are not related, the ethics boards of hospitals should review the cases and make sure the transfer is not being made for financial gain or other reasons. Obviously, something has gone wrong with this [ethics board] mechanism. We wanted the ethics boards to show the utmost care regarding these cases. I have now ordered the ministry's Inspection Council to review this situation. We are quickly conducting a study [into this matter]. At the same time, we have been convening the Science Council. We will reach a conclusion within the next few days,” he said. In response to a question from the press on whether it was possible to pass a law prohibiting organ transfers between non-related individuals, Akdağ said: “This is something we are considering at this point. In relation to this, the information given to us by the two councils will be a decisive factor.” He said organ transplants between people who are not related are completely in line with scientific rules, but continued, saying: “However, as I said, it is absolutely necessary that there are no other interests involved between the two sides. If there are, this turns into the trade of organs and may even include intermediaries and agents, which would be very bad. Our first finding is that such transactions are taking place. We will do whatever is necessary [to stop it].”
He said he could make a statement on the issue soon if the Science Council makes its conclusions shortly but feels it would be better to wait for the Inspection Council's findings before making any decisions.
This week the Antalya Police busted an organ trafficking gang allegedly headed by a retired teacher. Nine suspected members of the gang were arrested, in addition to four potential organ buyers and sellers. The charges were shocking, with police saying that 10 people in Afyon's Kışlacık village sold their kidneys to the gang in order to pay off debts in return for TL 20,000-30,000 each.
