MOSCOW, February 12 (RIA Novosti) - Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a federal law allowing the transplantation of human organs and tissues not only in state but also in municipal hospitals, the Kremlin press service said Monday.
The amendments remove loopholes in the legislation, as there were no municipal hospitals in Russia when the law was first adopted in 1992. Current municipal hospitals used to be part of the state system of health institutions.
The list of medical institutions involved in harvesting and preparing human organs and tissues and of those transplanting them will be approved by a federal executive body, regulating state healthcare policy in collaboration with the Academy of Medical Sciences.
Around 5,000 people in Russia need organ or tissue transplants.
The law was passed by the lower house of parliament January 26 and approved by the upper house February 2.