Media release 14 December 2005

Statement on the selling of kidneys for transplant in China.

In a worrying trend, recent reports have highlighted the targeting of kidney patients by international websites, selling kidneys from executed prisoners in China. According to reports from British surgeons, at least 10 people from the UK have gone to China this year to receive a kidney, and today one of the websites in question has been closed down.

There is currently a huge shortage of organs for transplant, with 90% of people on the NHS transplant list awaiting a kidney. Each year, only 1 in 4 of these people get the kidney they need and this situation is set to get worse because of an ageing population and the rise in the numbers of people with kidney disease.

To combat this shortage, Kidney Research UK is keen for changes in the current organ donation system to be implemented and has campaigned regularly on this subject. However, the charity does not believe that the buying and selling of organs is the right answer, and indeed, warns against any kidney patient considering this option.

In the case of organs being obtained from abroad, patients run the risk of picking up infections such as HIV and Hepatitis. In addition, surgical procedures may not be subject to the same regulations found in the UK.

Professor Michael L Nicholson, Professor of Transplant Surgery at the University of Leicester, and special advisor to Kidney Research UK says:

“I would strongly advise against any patient seeking to pay for an organ for transplant abroad. Instead, we seriously need to review the whole of the transplant infrastructure within the UK. Clearly, there are organs out there suitable for transplant, but as yet, we seem unable to significantly increase availability.�

Kidney Research UK believes that there are other more effective ways of resolving the organ shortfall, including the adoption of the Spanish model, where measures have included:

  • An increase in intensive care unit (ICU) beds
  • A senior transplant co-ordinator in every hospital
  • Improved co-ordination and training of the Transplant Co-ordinators Network
  • Hospitals being in a central position to audit all potential donors and to report centrally.
  • The consideration of older donors, non-heart beating donors and living donors, both related and non-related to be used.

Kidney Research UK also continues to encourage people to sign up to the organ donor register on 0845 60 60 400 as studies show that while many people intend to be organ donors they simply don't get round to signing up.

For more information on Kidney Research UK please click here for a contact number.