RDC social development team tackles commercialization of body parts

By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
January 30, 2007

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte  –  The commercialization of body parts is among the issues which the Social Development Committee of the Eastern Visayas Regional Development Council, will tackle during its first meeting for 2007.

The Committee which is chaired by Biliran Governor Rogelio Espina informed that the meeting will be held at the RDC Conference Room, NEDA Regional Office at the Government Center on February 1, 2007 at 1:30 in the afternoon.

The commercialization of body parts will be discussed by Dr. Eduardo V. Pedrosa of the Department of Health Regional Office 8. This issue was touched during the latest meeting of the Committee and as a result, DOH was requested to gather more information and discuss the commercialization of body parts in the next SDC meeting.

The committee was alerted by one of its members about the news that included in medical tourism is the sale of body parts, especially kidneys, at reduced prices. This, the member said is not right because body parts are beyond the commerce of men.

Assistant Regional Director Adelaida Aspirin of the Department of Health in Region 8 said that medical tourism is indeed under the Department of Health but that the selling of body parts by donors has long been in existence before medical tourism was conceived. She assured the body that this is already being addressed by the Department of Health.

Other issues which the Committee will tackle during its first meeting for the year 2007 are the financial and operational report on SALAG which is the haven for drug addicts, the issue of strengthening the implementation of basic education in the Visayas and the proposed SDC work program for the year 2007.

The Committee will also look back at its accomplishments in the year 2006 and will discuss the procedure in the conduct of Social Development Committee meetings.