David Koch told about review a week before on-air outburst

Sunrise co-host David Koch was told about a review into organ donation programs seven days before he went on live television to quit his role as chairman of the Organ and Tissue Authority's advisory council.

Koch fired a parting shot at Assistant Health Minister Fiona Nash, telling her to "get a backbone".

"You didn't even ring me as chairman of your advisory council to get my view or even tell me an inquiry was coming," he told viewers.

But a spokesman for Senator Nash said Koch was informed of the review on May 20 by a Health Department deputy secretary, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.

Koch reportedly was not told the terms of reference of the review and was asked not to speak about it publicly.

Senator Nash said a review was needed because the organ transplant rate in Australia, which currently stands at 16.1 donors per million population, had not increased as quickly as expected despite a $250 million investment.

The review, to be completed by Ernst and Young by August, will focus on the role of the Organ and Tissue Authority.