Maldives enacts first organ transplant law banning prisoner donations
New legislation establishes country's first legal framework for organ transplants after lawmakers barred prisoners from donating organs over concerns about coercion
MALÉ, Maldives (MNTV) — Maldives has enacted its first comprehensive law regulating human organ transplantation after President Mohamed Muizzu approved legislation that prohibits prisoners from donating organs and establishes a legal framework for transplant services in the country.
The Human Organ Transplant Act, ratified on Thursday after being reconsidered by Parliament, sets out rules governing organ donation and transplantation, defines the rights and responsibilities of donors, recipients and healthcare providers, and creates oversight bodies to regulate the sector.
The legislation was originally passed by Parliament in May but was returned by President Muizzu, who objected to a provision allowing prisoners to serve as organ donors. Lawmakers later amended the bill to explicitly prohibit organ donation by people in custody before approving it again earlier this month.
In a letter to Parliament explaining his decision, Muizzu argued that prisoners could not be considered capable of giving fully voluntary consent because they live under restrictions that may expose them to coercion.
The law establishes two new institutions to oversee the country’s transplant system. An Organ Transplant Council will develop national policies on organ transplantation, while an Organ Transplant Authorization Committee will evaluate and approve individual transplant applications.
It also introduces standards and procedures for organ transplantation and sets criminal penalties for illegal organ harvesting and transplant operations.
During parliamentary review, lawmakers removed earlier provisions based on Islamic criminal penalties, including retaliation and blood money, replacing them with conventional criminal sanctions.
Under the final law, illegal organ harvesting or transplantation is punishable by fines ranging from 200,000 to 250,000 Maldivian rufiyaa ($13,000 to $16,200) and prison sentences of between one and six years.
The law will take effect 180 days after its publication in the Government Gazette, with the Organ Transplant Council required to be established within two months of its entry into force.
The legislation marks a significant step in developing Maldives’ healthcare system by creating the country’s first dedicated legal framework for organ transplantation.
Until now, the absence of comprehensive legislation had limited the regulation and oversight of transplant services, including donor eligibility, ethical safeguards and approval procedures.
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