China to make human organ donations easier
(Xinhua/Agencies)
Updated: 2006-09-12 17:25
Beijing - China is drafting new laws to make it easier for people to donate
their organs in a country with long transplant waiting lists, the Xinhua news
agency said on Tuesday.
There are about two million people in China who need transplants each year,
but only around 20,000 operations are carried out because of shortages, Xinhua
said.
China earlier this year banned the sale of human organs, and the health
ministry now requires the written consent of donors and restricts the number of
hospitals allowed to perform transplant operations.
The regulations will standardize the organ donation procedures and encourage
people to become donors.
"Many more donors are needed, but they often meet difficulties when they
apply, so the ministry must standardize the application process and technology
of transplants, which is complicated and risky," said ministry spokesman Mao
Qun'an.
Mao was responding to questions about reports of would-be donors
having their wishes unrealized because of confusion over the procedures or which
agency to apply to.
The regulation would specify the whole application
process and stipulate the requirements for medical institutions conducting
transplants.
"Only the medical institutions that meet the technological
requirements can undertake transplant surgery," said Mao.
Foreign media
have reported that organs are taken from executed criminals, but the Ministry of
Health denied this in April, saying most organs in China had been voluntarily
donated by ordinary citizens on their deaths and a small number from executed
criminals who voluntarily signed donation approvals.
|
