Could Egypt get its own human tissue bank?

Last night’s talk shows focused on a proposal to establish a national human tissue bank put forward by Senate member Amira Saber.

The Senate is looking to assess the legislative impact of the organ donation law passed in 2010 and to identify the gaps preventing its full implementation, Saber told El Sora’s Lamees El Hadidi (watch, runtime: 02:01). Despite religious edicts that discourage skin donation, Saber clarified that religious institutions were involved in the national dialogue when the law was passed, noting that there are also fatwas that permit the practice.

What does Dar Al Ifta say? El Hadidi shed light on Dar Al Ifta’s opinion regarding skin donation, citing a fatwa that states: There is no shariah-based objection to performing skin transplant and grafting procedures by utilizing skin from a deceased person, provided there is a compelling necessity.

Getting Egyptians on board is the main challenge: El Hekaya’s Amr Adib (watch, runtime:06:01) criticized the lack of serious engagement among Egyptians regarding post-mortem organ donation, asserting that the obstacle is no longer religious or legislative, but rather psychological and cultural.