Circumcision may fuel illicit trade

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'A medical advocacy group has warned that the KwaZulu-Natal health department's decision to allow circumcisions at state hospitals will fuel an illicit trade in foreskins, the Sowetan newspaper reported.

The newspaper reported that Medical Rights Advocacy Network head Dr Uttam Govind had written to Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi, KwaZulu-Natal premier Dr Zweli Mkhize and health MEC Sibongiseni Dhlomo.

He had urged them to stop the planned circumcision programme, which starts in April 2012.

Govind reportedly wrote that there were problems enforcing the Human Tissue Act, which required researchers to obtain a permit from the health ministry before exporting human tissue.

The foreskins were used in the cosmetics industry to remove wrinkles, as artificial skin and for insulin.'