CHINA ADMITS ORGANS FROM EXECUTED PRISONERS SOLD TO TOURISTS

China acknowledged the practice of "transplant tourism," in which the organs of executed prisoners are sold to foreigners, and said it wants to regulate the sale of kidneys, livers and other body parts.
"Most of the organs from cadavers are from executed prisoners," Vice Health Minister Huang Jiefu said at a summit for transplant doctors in Guangzhou, state newspapers reported.
The practice had been repeatedly denied by the Chinese government.
A ministry spokesman also said that "wealthier people, including foreign patients" could jump waiting lists because they were willing to pay more.
Under new rules, foreigners would only be allowed to come to China for transplants under regulations yet to be announced but that would conform to international standards, the summit was told. Priority would be given to an estimated 1 million Chinese on waiting lists.
In some cases, it was claimed that prisoners were being executed so transplants could take place. The claims were repeatedly denied by government spokesmen.