Tourist Organ Transplants To Be Banned in China???

Tagged: asia, China, Organ Transplants

In a press conference last week, the Ministry of Health (MOH) in China announced that it is against organ transplants to foreign visitors in the country.  The opposition of China against organ transplants for foreign tourists is in accordance with global standards in healthcare. Medical institutions around the globe are taking steps to prevent illegal organ transplants and illegal organ trading in black markets.

In May 2007, the government of China issued provisions regarding organ transplantation for foreign tourists. Currently, there are over 160 medical facilities in the country that are licensed to perform organ transplants. If any of these medical institutions see the need to perform organ transplants to a foreign patient, it must first seek the official approval of the provincial health department before proceeding with the surgery. The provincial health department is responsible for securing approval from the MOH for these special procedures. Any medical institution found to be violating this rule and performing illegal organ transplants will face harsh penalties.

The MOH has ordered hospitals not to conduct organ transplants for foreign patients and to prioritize local citizens who urgently need organ transplants. This is also due to the lack of donors in the country. The MOH warned that harsh penalties will be imposed on medical facilities that are found to be involved in illegal organ transplants.