Many doubt China’s commitment to phasing out forced organ harvesting in the country. (Photo : Getty Images)
The National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC) released new rules for organ transplant surgeons. The new policy will require practitioners to have regular exams and must perform transplants in three years.
If surgeons fail to comply, they will face suspension or revocation of their license, according to the new regulations published on the commission's website.
Surgeons are also required get official verification and list a number of qualifications and requirements. They are required to obtain a medical practice certificate and previous working experience in surgery in major hospitals.
Li Bin, head of the NHFPC, said, "The Chinese government's attitude toward organ transplant is consistent and clear."
Reports from the commission indicated that in the first half of 2016, China has completed 1,795 organ removals, up 45 percent compared to the same period last year. This is an increase from 2,766 last year, which exceeded the number in 2013 and 2014 combined.
"At present, the number of China's organ donation ranks first in Asia and third in the world," Wang Hao, head of the China Organ Transplant Response System.
The government also sees the need to clean up issues on organ trafficking which was reported to be a $1 billion industry.
A group was formed last year named "The Coalition to Investigate the Persecution of the Falun Gong in China." They sought the expertise of human rights lawyer David Matas and former Canadian member of parliament David Kilgour.
They started to investigate on the gruesome organ trade that was existing in the country and how practitioners are profiting from this massive industry.
The documentary also exposed that political prisoners are the sources of organs and are compelled to donate.
The film's director, Leon Lee said, "The story seemed too incredible to believe. Several months later, David Matas and David Kilgour published their investigation report Bloody Harvest."
He added, "Transplants range from about $60,000 to over $170,000 depending on the operation, so there is a lot of money to be made there. Sadly the sale of organs has become a source of funding."
