Since the release of an administrative order prohibiting foreigners from accessing organ transplantations in the country in 2008, health officials noted a significant decline in organ transplantations.

From 1,041 transplants in 2007, it was reduced to 662 in 2008 and transplants gathered from living non-related donors also decreased.

Dr. Ernie Vera, chief of the organ donation program of the DoH said the agency is now gearing for the increase in organ transplantations specifically the practice of harvesting donated organs via deceased patients.

“In 2008, we created the mechanism to modulate the level of transplant… Now, we are promoting organ transplants through living non-related donors,” Vera said in a media conference the other day.

Vera is referring to the 2008 department administrative order 0004 that revised the policy on kidney transplantation from living non-related organ donors.

This policy banned transplants done on foreigners. The implementing rules and regulations of the policy was signed in July of last year and it also stipulates that the DoH will strictly screen the “qualifications” of donors, whether it will be done voluntarily or because of money.

In the same year, the DoH also created the Philippine Organ Donation Program (PODP).