President Shavkat Mirziyoyev signed the Human Organ And Tissue Transplantation Bill into Law was signed on May 11 and took effect on Thursday.

Only 10 liver transplants were performed in Uzbekistan last year, while in the country 5,000 patients suffer from liver cirrhosis, of which 500 people, or 10%, need a liver transplant - these data were reported in September. At the same time, plans were announced to increase the number of liver transplants to 50 per year, kidney transplants to 250 per year, to carry out heart transplants (50 operations per year) and lungs (30 operations per year).

According to the law, transplantation of organs and (or) tissues from a living donor or a human corpse can be applied only if other surgical operations or manipulations cannot guarantee to save life or restore health, the law established.

For transplantation, the written consent of the recipient (to whom the organ, tissue is being transplanted) is required. A notarized written consent of the donor to the removal of organs and (or) tissues from his corpse is also mandatory. Withdrawal without consent is illegal.

Removed human organs and tissues can be used for transplantation to all those in need. Information about a living donor and recipient is a medical secret.

Organs and tissues of a person may be removed for transplantation if there is a death certificate issued on the basis of the death of ф human brain. The participation of transplantologists and members of teams providing the removal of human organs and tissues is prohibited in ascertaining the brain death.

Private medical institutions are not allowed into the field of transplantation of human organs and tissues: according to the law, the removal and transplantation of human organs and tissues shall be performed by medical institutions of the public healthcare system, the list of which shall be determined by the government.

When transplanting human organs and tissues, individuals and legal entities are prohibited from buying and selling them. Export of transplanted organs and tissues outside the country is prohibited.

The law establishes restrictions on donation, the rights and obligations of living donors and recipients.

The law was passed by the Legislative Chamber on November 2, approved by the Senate on December 15, and returned by the President for revision on March 3 of this year. The finalized law was approved by the Senate at the April meeting.