The Department of Health (DoH) said on Thursday that the ban on organ transplantation for foreigners stays in accordance with the 2008 administrative order that revised the policy on kidney transplantation from living, non-related donors.

Dr. Ernie Vera, program manager of the Philippine Organ Donation and Transplantation Program, also denied reports that the DoH is mulling the provision of a “gratuity package” for organ donors.

“If you go by the policy, we haven’t talked about the gratuity package. We are only focusing on the altruistic donors. We don’t give gratuity package for them. We are not informed about the gratuity package. There are guidelines and we will be pursuing these guidelines.”

Vera said the DoH is now focusing on the establishment of a national program on organ donation from deceased donors.

The program was ordered under a recent administrative order released by former Health Secretary Esperanza I. Cabral. It was intended as a response to the 2008 Declaration of Istanbul on Organ trafficking and transplant tourism and the 63rd World Health Assembly resolution on organ donation.

Vera said the agency is aiming for an increase in organ transplantations gathered from deceased patients who had signified their intention to participate in the program.

In a previous conference with the press, Ona said he will study the existing law on organ donation and fix the areas that needed clarification.

He related that in the US, there is a similar law on organ donation that says a donor must allow the organ donation and transplantation on an “altruistic” nature. The donor is not allowed to receive valuables or money for the act.

“This is the ideal thing. But in the Philippines, there is such a thing as a debt of gratitude. So we have to differentiate whether it is a gift or assistance to the donor or payment…we have to define what is sale, compensation and trafficking,” Ona said.

The implementing rules and regulations of the AO also stipulate that the DoH will strictly screen the qualifications of donors, whether it the act is to be done voluntarily or is motivated by money.

The AO nullified the previous policy allowing transplantation for foreign patients after approval by the Philippine Network for Organ Donation and Transplantation (PhilNETDAT).