China considers financial incentives to promote organ donation

8:13:40 PM
China considers financial incentives to promote organ donation
by Jared Yee | 29 Apr 2011 |

tags: China, organ donation, organ markets, organ transplantation

The Chinese government is considering offering financial incentives to people to voluntarily donate organs. In 2007 China banned organ transplants from living donors, except spouses, blood relatives and step or adopted family members. In 2009 it launched a national system to coordinate donation after death to counter a thriving black market in organs.

State news agency Xinhua said that Vice Health Minister Huang Jiefu has proposed some compensation for donors, like reducing the cost of their stay in hospital or paying for their funeral. “Other financial compensation could also be considered, such as tax rebates, medical insurance or tuition waivers for donors' family members.” Almost 1.5 million people in China each year need organ transplants, but only 10,000 can get one. Many organs for transplantation are still harvested from executed criminals, according to the Chinese media. ~ Reuters, Apr 25

http://www.bioedge.org/index.php/bioethics/bioethics_article/9505/