A survey by Japan's health and welfare ministry shows at least 543 people in the country had received organ transplants overseas, as of the end of March this year.

The ministry conducted the survey following the arrest of the director of an NPO who is accused of brokering overseas organ transplants in February without government permission.

According to the survey, as of the end of March, 543 people were visiting hospitals in Japan to receive post-transplant operative care.

The breakdown shows 42 patients received transplants from living donors, while 416 received them from brain-dead or deceased donors. In 85 of the cases, the state of the donor is unknown.

250 patients underwent kidney transplants, 148 received hearts, 143 received livers, and 2 had lung transplants.

A breakdown by country shows 227 people received transplants in the US, 175 in China, and 41 in Australia.

The survey also shows that over the past 5 years, 38 people died and 25 people experienced malfunctioning of transplanted organs while visiting medical institutions in Japan.

The International Society for Transplantation has issued a declaration banning the trade of organs and limiting transplants to those carried out within the country of organ donors.

The ministry says the survey has brought to light the fact that some people are going overseas for transplants. The ministry also says it plans to raise awareness about transplants and reinforce the system of transplantation therapy, so as to promote organ donation and transplants inside Japan.