A committee for the development of organ transplantation in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was formed by the Health Ministry this year. The new body would develop future plans, procedures, regulations and rules regarding the organ transplant program undertaken by the Saudi government.  The organ transplantation services of the government are carried out through the Saudi Center for Organ Transplantation, (SCOT) which is headquartered in Riyadh. Members of the committee would include nephrologists and specialists in organ transplantation from SCOT and other hospitals.

The board of the Saudi Council of Religious Scholars has unanimously agreed on the permissibility of removing an organ, or a part thereof from a living person and grafting it should there be no risk in the removal and should the transplantation seem likely to be successful.

SCOT’s motto is, “Share your life and be an organ donor.” From time to time, SCOT calls for organ donors to help patients who have reached end stage organ failure. SCOT identifies two types of donors — cadaveric donors and living donors.