Human Organ Transplant Act

The Human Organ Transplant Act (HOTA) allows for the organs (kidney, liver, heart and cornea) of Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents to be donated in the event of death, for the purpose of transplantation only.

The HOTA was first enacted in 1987 to allow for the kidneys of all non-Muslim Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents between the ages of 21 to 60, to be donated in the event of accidental death for transplantation only.

Subsequently in January 2004, the Human Organ Transplant (Amendment) Bill was passed by Parliament to allow more Singaporeans to benefit from deceased donor organs, by extending HOTA beyond kidneys to also include the liver, heart and corneas. The Bill was also extended beyond deaths caused by accidents to include all causes of death. The regulation of living-donor transplantation was also put under the purview of HOTA. This expansion of HOTA to include more organs has helped to save many more lives.

HOTA was again amended in August 2008 to include Muslim Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents who were excluded from HOTA when it was first enacted in 1987. The amendment meant that Muslims who have not opted out of HOTA would receive the same priority as those who are included under HOTA or MTERA should the need for a donor organ arise. This also meant that the organ donor pool would further increase.

To put all this into perspective, prior to HOTA in 1987, deceased donor kidney transplantation was only at an average of 5 per year. The period from the enactment of HOTA in 1987 until its amendment in 2004 witnessed 222 patients undergo deceased donor kidney transplantation. This was a rise in deceased donor kidney transplantation rates to an average of 13 per year. Subsequently, from 2004 until end-June 2007, another 148 kidney patients benefited from such a transplant: an increase to 49 transplants per year!

Despite this, close to 600 patients in Singapore currently await the chance for a new lease of life through organ transplant. Further to that, the demand for deceased donor organs for transplantation continues to escalate.

All Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents 21 years old and above*, and are of sound mind, are included under HOTA. Those who choose to remain under HOTA will have a chance to help others, in addition to a higher priority in receiving a deceased donor organ if they need such a transplant in the future.

Should you for any reason decide against donating your organs upon death, you can opt out by completing the form below in full and send it back to the National Organ Transplant Unit (NOTU). Using the same form, you are also able to select from the list organ/s which you do not wish to donate upon death.

To opt out, use the HOTA Opt-out Form (181KB).

Please send the completed form to the following address:
National Organ Transplant Unit
c/o Singapore General Hospital
Singapore 169608

For more information, please call the organ donor registry at 63214390.

*From 1 November 2009, HOTA will cover all Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents 21 years old and above, who are of sound mind, unless they have opted out. The upper age limit of 60 has been removed.