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China's growing organ transplant industry has attracted investments of foreign pharmaceutical companies specializing in organ transplant drugs. However, a representative from Amnesty International says these companies need to consider more than just business when engaging with China because of the illegal practices taking place there. Danièle Gosteli from Economy and Human Rights, Amnesty International Switzerland said, “Of course, if an international company knowingly participates and continues to do so even with the knowledge of organ trade, this would have very bad effects on its reputation.” Companies like Swiss-based Roche, which markets its transplant drugs in China, have come under fire from rights advocates for ignoring violations of ethics taking place under the Chinese regime.
SYDNEY—Illegal organ harvesting has become worse under reforms put in place by the Chinese leadership to stop it, says a Canadian human rights lawyer. David Matas is in Australia to present a paper on the issue at a United Nations conference for non-government organisations (NGOs) involved with health in developing countries. He says Chinese authorities have developed liver and kidney registries, an organ donor programme, restricted the number of hospitals permitted to perform organ transplants in China to 650 and shut down websites advertising the speedy sourcing of organs in an apparent effort to halt the trade. However, while the reforms had reduced “transplant tourism” from Westerners seeking organ transplants, they had neither stopped the illegal organ trade nor increased transparency.