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Who is eligible to be a donor
All of us have the opportunity to become an organ donor either through deceased or living organ donations.
Last updated 21 March 2025
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In Singapore, there are two legislations governing organ donation and transplantation - the Medical (Therapy, Education and Research) Act (MTERA) and the Human Organ Transplant Act (HOTA).
By pledging under MTERA or not opting out of HOTA, you are saying yes to give others a chance to live on.
Deceased Donor Eligibility
The transplant coordinator, together with the multidisciplinary transplant team, will evaluate the individual upon demise to determine the viability and suitability of the organs for donation. Organs are only recovered when assessed suitable for donation and if there are matching recipients to receive the organs.
Age Limit
With increasing life expectancy, healthier ageing and improvement in health technology, one’s suitability to donate organs is not always linked to age. There is no upper age limit for organ donation. Our oldest deceased kidney donor was a 83-year-old lady!
Race & Religion
All races and major religions in Singapore support organ and tissue donation. Read more about organ donation in Islam
Stories that might interest you:
Rosyati: How accepting a kidney donation can be liberating to the family.
Cancer
Individuals with certain localised tumours may still be considered for organ donation.
Individuals with metastatic cancer (i.e. cancer that has spread around the body) will not be able to donate organs for transplantation. However, they may still donate their whole body for education and research.
Eye Condition
Conditions such as short and long-sightedness generally do not affect cornea donation.
The corneas of individuals who have gone for eye surgeries, such as lasik or cataract surgery may not be suitable for donation.
Infectious Diseases
Individuals with Hepatitis B*/C, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) or Tuberculosis (TB) will not be able to donate their organs, tissues and/or whole body.
*Individuals with Hepatitis B may be considered for deceased donor liver donation, subject to further assessments.
Tattoos
Individuals with tattoos can still be organ and tissue donors. For skin donations, only parts of the skin (from the back and lower limbs) without tattoos can be donated.
Smoking
Smoking can increase the risk of diseases such as lung cancer and high blood pressure. While smokers are not immediately ruled out as organ donors, doctors will perform more thorough checks to assess suitability of the organs for donation.
Alcohol
Alcohol consumption does not make a person unfit for organ donation. While high alcohol intake might affect the suitability of some organs, doctors will perform more thorough checks to assess suitability of the organs for donation
HOTA & MTERA at a glance
Human Organ Transplant Act (HOTA) vs The Medical (Therapy, Education and Research) Act (MTERA)
Comparison Criteria | HOTA | MTERA |
|---|---|---|
Who is included? | All Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents, 21 years old and above, not mentally disordered, unless they have opted out. | Anyone who is 18 years old and above, regardless of nationality, can pledge to donate his organs and/or tissues. |
Which organs are included? | ||
Liver, kidneys, heart, corneas | ✅ | ✅ |
Any other organs, tissues, and/or whole body | ❌ | ✅ |
What is the purpose? | ||
Transplant and therapy | ✅ | ✅ |
Research and education | ❌ | ✅ |
How is organ donation authorised? | ||
Scheme | Opt-out(by individual only) | Opt-in |
Next-of-kin consent | ❌ | ✅ |
HOTA & MTERA do not apply to deaths that occur overseas.
Medical (Therapy, Education and Research) Act (MTERA)
MTERA was first enacted in 1972. Anyone 18 years old and above, regardless of nationality, can pledge to be an organ, tissue and/or whole body donor for the purposes of transplant, therapy, and/or education and research upon death. Some of the organs and tissues that can be donated under MTERA include lungs, trachea, pancreas, heart valves, iliac vessels and skin. Individuals can also specify the organs and purpose(s) that they would like to donate them for. As an organ pledger, you can save the lives of others, and help further the research and discovery of life-saving medical procedures.
Should you wish to pledge under MTERA, click here to find out how you can do so.
The next of kin can also give consent for donation under MTERA even if the individual did not make a pledge.
For more information visit, Medical (Therapy, Education and Research) Act
Human Organ Transplant Act (HOTA)
All Singapore Citizens (SCs) and Permanent Residents (PRs), 21 years old and above, who are not mentally disordered are included under the Human Organ Transplant Act (HOTA), unless they have opted out. HOTA allows for the kidneys, liver, heart and corneas to be recovered in the event of death from any cause, for the purpose of transplantation.
History of HOTA
Year 1987
Prior to the implementation of HOTA, the kidney donation rate was at a low 3 per year.
With the introduction of HOTA, the average number of kidney transplants per year increased substantially as compared to the 1980s due to the inclusion of donors from cases of accidental deaths.
Year 2004
HOTA was amended to include the donation of liver, heart and corneas from all causes of deaths.
Regulations for living donor transplants were also included.
Year 2008
HOTA was further amended to include Muslims.
Year 2009
The upper age limit of 60 years old was removed.
Those who remain under HOTA will not only have the chance to help others, but will also have higher priority on the waiting list (compared to those who have opted out of HOTA) should they require an organ transplant.
Note: Organs donated under HOTA are intended for donation to the common pool of patients on the respective national organ transplant waiting lists. Therefore, it is neither possible to specify the recipients of organs recovered under HOTA, nor specifically exclude certain people from receiving the organs. The identities of the deceased organ donor and the transplant recipients will be kept anonymous.
If you do not wish to donate your organs, click here to find out how to opt-out and object under HOTA. Do note that HOTA objectors will have a lower priority on the organ transplant waiting list should they need a transplant in the future.
If you are an existing HOTA objector and wish to withdraw your objection, click here to find out how you can withdraw your objection. Do note that you will still be of a lower priority on the organ transplant waiting list for two years from the date your withdrawal of objection was received.
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