Singapore - Singapore is not ruling out legalizing organ trading amid the stark reality of shortages for transplants and a black market in the Asian region, Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan told The Straits Times.

The comment by Khaw came as a surprise given the government's firm stand on enforcing the present laws, which prohibit the buying and selling of human kidneys, lungs and other organs.

"I think we should not write off or reject the idea of selling organs," Khaw was quoted as saying. "But I think we need to study it carefully."

The Singapore Medical Association has come out strongly against legalizing the trade. Dr Tan Sze Wee, the group's spokesman, said that sellers face an array of medical risks, are almost always desperately poor and can be abused and exploited.

Five people were recently charged in Singapore's first kidneys- for-sale deals, igniting a debate over the benefits and dangers.

Last year, 86 Singaporeans received kidneys from living donors, including 53 who received the organ from a relative, the report said.

Hundreds of others languished on waiting lists, dying within five years without a transplant.

Khaw told the newspaper that his stance was not a reversal from earlier comments that the trade, motivated by financial transactions, is "definitely wrong, morally and legally."

"I remain of the view that organ trading is not the way to go, but we should not reject any idea given the reality," he said.

Singapore could learn from Norway and Spain, where organ supply almost matches demand, Khaw said. In Spain, specially trained doctors and an efficient donor-detection programme have helped make more organs available. (dpa)