No more harvesting organs from executed prisoners in China

China has ceased harvesting organs from executed prisoners for transplants. Starting from January 1st, the country will rely on voluntary public donors and living relatives.

According to China's Organ Donation Committee, about 65 percent of all donations are from the deceased. 90 percent were executed prisoners. China recently started a voluntary program, but public response has been weak.

The head of the ODC, Huang Jiefu, says this is largely because of "traditional thinking" and concerns over fairness and transparency. The supply of donor organs falls far short of demand in China.

An estimated 300,000 patients are wait-listed every year, but only about one in 30 ultimately receives a transplant.