The government has proposed new legislation to regulate organ transplantation in the Maldives, aiming to establish a legal framework to ensure ethical, safe, and transparent medical practices.

The Human Organ Transplantation Bill, submitted to Parliament by Kendhikulhudhoo MP Ibrahim Didi on behalf of the Government, outlines procedures for organ and organ-part transplants within the country. The bill seeks to make transplant services accessible and of high quality while protecting the rights of both donors and recipients.

According to the bill, only living donors aged 18 or older and of sound mind may voluntarily donate organs. Those in state custody or serving prison sentences will be prohibited from donating. The legislation also makes it illegal to buy or sell organs or assist in transplantation without the donor’s explicit consent. Offenders, including medical professionals involved in such activities, could face fines and imprisonment.

The proposed law also establishes two key bodies: a nine-member Organ Transplant Council, which will issue and monitor service permits, and a five-member Organ Transplant Authorisation Committee, responsible for approving individual transplant cases.

Once passed, the bill is expected to pave the way for developing organ transplant services in the Maldives, a step toward reducing the need for patients to seek such treatments abroad. The introduction of this bill signifies the Government’s first step toward establishing a formal system for organ transplantation in the Maldives, a service currently unavailable in the country.