New Delhi, Sep 17 - Doctors and touts involved in illegal organ transplantation will be put behind bars for 10 years, Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said Thursday soon after the union cabinet approved his ministry's proposal to amend the Transplantation of Human Organs Act.

'There were lot of flaws in the act. There was a need for amendment. We are happy that the cabinet has approved the proposal,' Azad said said while unveiling his ministry's achievement in the last 100 days.

'After amendment, it will become both patient friendly and stringent. Ten years of imprisonment will be handed over to doctors and touts involved in illegal organ transplantation,' the minister added.

Under the current provisions of the act, the maximum punishment is not more than five years.

Azad said earlier the act was only related to organs but after amendment it will take into account transplantation of tissues, bones and skin. Now grandfather and grandchildren are included in the scope of donor and recipient, he said explaining the positive changes the 15-year-old act will undergo.

Earlier in the day, the cabinet gave its nod for an amendment to the law which parliament passed in 1994.

'In order to make the organs transplantation more transparent and patient friendly, the cabinet has approved the proposals of the ministry of health and family welfare to amend the provisions of the act and also for imposing stringent penalties on persons/hospitals violating the provisions of the act,' Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni said after the cabinet meet.