The Government instituted an independent commission for approving and coordinating transplantation activities under the Ministry of Health. According to Health Minister Vladimir Hotineanu, this is the second important step, after the creation of the Transplantation Agency, towards implementing the law on the transplantation of organs, tissues and cells adopted in March 2008, Info-Prim Neo reports. The commission consists of seven persons – two doctors of the Expert Council of the Ministry of Health, a psychologist, a psychiatrist, a representative of the National Ethics Committee, a representative of the Ministry of the Interior specialized in combating of human trafficking, and a representative of the Prosecutor General’s Office. The commission will approve the transfer of organs, tissues and cells from donors, will assess the opportunity of the procedure and will monitor how patients’ rights are observed. The transplantation of organs, tissues and cells was banned in 2003. But, according to Vladimir Hotineanu, such operations are extremely necessary. Currently, 500 patients are receiving dialysis treatment. The transplant of kidney would improve the condition of 30% of them and would reduce the treatment costs. “We have specialists and experience and can resume the transplantation activities at the beginning of next year. At the initial stage, we can perform 25 such operations. The donors can include patients’ relatives and the moral problems will be thus solved easier,” said the minister. Surgical wards outfitted with expensive equipment that costs about €3 million are needed for the transplantation of other organs like liver and lungs.