New EU draft law on organ donation 'close to adoption'

The European parliament has been told that remaining obstacles to the adoption of new EU rules on organ transplantation are "close to being resolved."

At present, there are differences between member states in their approach to the issue, but a European commission directive aims to lay down harmonised, EU-wide rules to ensure high standards of quality for organs intended for transplantation.

A separate commission action plan on organ donation and transplantation calls for the training, accreditation and appointment of transplant coordinators in all transplantation hospitals.

Addressing a news conference on Wednesday, Slovakian EPP deputy Miroslav Mikolášik, parliament's rapporteur on the issue, said there was "good momentum" for adoption of the draft law.

He said, "It is a good quality text and we are close to resolving the problems and minor issues that remain. I have put forward several amendments which hopefully paves the way for member state agreement."

He hopes the environment committee will be able to vote on the directive next week, paving the way for a plenary vote in May.

"I am confident there will be broad, cross-party support for this directive."

Speaking at the same event, his party colleague, Peter Liese, said one of the main outstanding issues is a commission proposal that each member state establish a national transplant authority.

The German deputy who, like Mikolášik, is a medical doctor, said, "We do not need separate authorities where they already exist."

Liese said the need for new rules on transplantation was all the more necessary "as every day people are dying because they cannot get access to organs.

"In Germany alone, three people a day die because of a shortage of lungs, hearts, livers and other organs for transplantation."

Liese also urged the commission to investigate Canadian claims that members of the Falun Gong practice in China were being kept in camps and killed for their organs.

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