The Japanese government is initiating a nationwide investigation into the illegal organ transplant facilitation involving its citizens in Cambodia.
According to the Yomiuri Shimbun on October 29, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare plans to conduct a survey at hundreds of organ transplant hospitals across the country to assess the situation regarding overseas organ transplants.
This investigation will broadly verify the number of patients who have received organ transplants abroad and returned for regular check-ups in Japan, the types of organs transplanted, the countries where the surgeries took place, the involvement of brokers, and the names of intermediary companies.
Earlier, in July and August, the representative of the International Medical Consultation Office, identified as A, was arrested and indicted for facilitating illegal kidney transplants in Cambodia and profiting from the transactions, violating organ transplant laws.
The International Medical Consultation Office reportedly recruited patients with the claim that “kidney transplants are routinely performed overseas” on its website.
They are accused of arranging for a Japanese man in his 70s, suffering from kidney disease, to receive a kidney from a woman in her 20s in Cambodia, for which they allegedly received 25 million yen (approximately $230,000).
The total amount paid by the man to the International Medical Consultation Office and local medical personnel reached 37 million yen (about $342,000).
Japan's current organ transplant law strictly prohibits any monetary exchange for organ donation or facilitation. Violators face up to five years in prison or fines of up to 5 million yen (approximately $42,000).
The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare plans to develop comprehensive measures to prevent illegal organ trading based on the results of this investigation. In 2023, the ministry had already conducted a survey following the emergence of another illegal organ transplant facilitation case involving A.
That investigation revealed that overseas organ transplants had occurred in 25 different countries and regions, with 543 patients returning to Japan for outpatient treatment.
The research team intends to examine trends in overseas organ transplants over the past three years through this investigation.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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