Surgeon says kidney donation has no set price
A Consultant Plastic Surgeon, Dr Torngee Malu, has clarified that there is no fixed price for donating a kidney. He emphasized that organ donation should not be treated as a commercial transaction and that the law only allows for reimbursement or compensation, not a set fee. Dr Malu highlighted the need to prioritize access to transplantation over assigning monetary value to organs. He also discussed the technical nature of kidney transplants and the importance of distinguishing between legal donation and trafficking.
Highlights
- Dr Torngee Malu stated there is no fixed monetary value for a human kidney and that compensation is relative.
- He explained that both rich and poor people are affected by kidney disease, so access to transplantation should be prioritized.
- Dr Malu said kidney transplantation is a specialized procedure requiring experts and should not be confused with illegal organ trafficking.
- The legal framework for organ donation was expanded by guidelines issued by the Federal Ministry of Health in 2025.
- Police arrested four suspects on August 19 during a sting operation related to alleged illegal kidney harvesting, with incidents reported in April 2026 and 2022.
