Govt’s organ transplant system feted

One-time critics endorse national programme despite transparency doubts

MADRID: Just a few years ago, China was persona non grata in the transplantation world over its use of organs from executed inmates, some of them prisoners of conscience.

But at the Transplantation Society’s annual congress in Madrid this week, the tables turned as 150 Chinese experts took part – an unprecedented number – and onetime critics endorsed the country’s organ donation system despite allegations it is far from transparent.

“That couldn’t happen just a few years ago,” said Francis Delmonico, a US transplant surgeon and former president of the society.

The transplant society used to ban Chinese experts in the field from giving presentations at annual conferences, he told reporters at a press conference organised by the Chinese embassy in Madrid.

“The fact that there are so many Chinese professionals here report- ing their experience is a very important testimony of the evolution of China,” Delmonico added.

China banned the use of executed prisoners’ organs in 2015 and has set up a nationwide voluntary donation system instead.

But there are fears the practice goes on, with prisoners being reclassified as voluntary donors to get around the rules.

Huang Jiefu, the man in charge of overhauling China’s transplant system, strongly denies this and says there is zero tolerance now.

He nevertheless admitted at a conference last year at the Vatican that organ transplants from prisoners may still be taking place.

“China is a big country with a 1.3 billion population so I am sure, definitely, there is some violation of the law,” he said.

China initiated its voluntary organ donation system in 2010 and rolled it out nationwide in 2013.

“Official accounts indicate that the percentage of organs sourced from donations jumped from 23% in 2013 to 80% in 2014, with voluntary donations officially becoming the sole official organ source in 2015,” said the China Organ Harvest Research Center in a report.

“It is not plausible that such a complete transition in this system could have taken place in just one or two years.”

Apart from mistrust of authorities, many Chinese believe they will be reincarnated after death and feel the need to keep a complete body, making them reluctant to donate an organ.

This raises the question of where the organs would come from.

In its report, the China Organ Harvest Research Center alleges that organs are not just harvested from executed inmates but also from living prisoners of conscience.

It alleges these include the people from the Uighur ethnic minority, which China has cracked down on.

However, there is no firm evidence this is happening. Both Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International say they have been unable to verify the claims. — AFP

China is a big country with a 1.3 billion population so I am sure, definitely, there is some violation of the law. Huang Jiefu