DOH warns public vs. fake messages about organ trafficking

The Department of Health (DOH) on Thursday warned the public against believing fake messages about illegal organ trade.

In an advisory, the DOH said hospitals and healthcare facilities do not participate in these illegal activities.

It added that they continue to practice and facilitate safe and voluntary organ donations.

"The department further calls on the collaborative effort with our partners, stakeholders, and media to help prevent the spread of fake information released to the general public," it said.

"This message sends out fear and discouragement to people to help those who are in need of organ donation and potential donors.”

GMA News Online sought additional information from the DOH regarding the fraudulent messages, but it has not yet replied as of posting time.

The DOH urged the public to be more vigilant against these fake messages and trust only verified information from reputable sources such as the official websites and social media accounts of government agencies. —Richa Noriega/VBL, GMA News