Drug Companies Involved in Chinese Regime's Organ Transplant
- 14 years ago
Pharmaceutical companies that specialize in organ transplant drugs should consider their reputation before entering the Chinese market, according to a representative of Amnesty International in Switzerland. Danièle Gosteli says this is because organs in China often come from sources that cannot be verified. Our bureau in Switzerland brings this story.
The growing organ transplant industry in China has attracted investments of foreign pharmaceutical companies, specializing in organ transplant drugs. But a representative from Amnesty International in Switzerland says these companies need to consider more than just business when engaging with China because of the illegal practices taking place there.
[Danièle Gosteli, Economy & Human Rights, Amnesty International, Swiss Action]:
"Of course if an international company knowingly participates and continues to do so even with the knowledge of organ trade, this would have a very bad effect on its reputation."
Companies like Swiss-based Roche, that markets its transplant drugs in China, have come under fire from rights advocates for ignoring violation of ethics taking place under the Chinese regime.
According to official statistics, about 10,000 organ transplants are carried out in China every year, and 65 percent of them are estimated to come from executed prisoners, usually without proof of consent. An ongoing investigation by international human rights advocates also point to the source of organs coming from living Falun Gong practitioners who are imprisoned for their beliefs. Under the Chinese regime, their organs are removed while they are still alive and sold to transplant patients.
Danièle Gosteli says these practices should pose a problem for drug companies.
[Danièle Gosteli, Economy & Human Rights, Amnesty International, Swiss Action]:
"These pharmaceutical companies cannot guarantee the sources of organs for those patients receiving the transplant."
The growing organ transplant industry in China has attracted investments of foreign pharmaceutical companies, specializing in organ transplant drugs. But a representative from Amnesty International in Switzerland says these companies need to consider more than just business when engaging with China because of the illegal practices taking place there.
[Danièle Gosteli, Economy & Human Rights, Amnesty International, Swiss Action]:
"Of course if an international company knowingly participates and continues to do so even with the knowledge of organ trade, this would have a very bad effect on its reputation."
Companies like Swiss-based Roche, that markets its transplant drugs in China, have come under fire from rights advocates for ignoring violation of ethics taking place under the Chinese regime.
According to official statistics, about 10,000 organ transplants are carried out in China every year, and 65 percent of them are estimated to come from executed prisoners, usually without proof of consent. An ongoing investigation by international human rights advocates also point to the source of organs coming from living Falun Gong practitioners who are imprisoned for their beliefs. Under the Chinese regime, their organs are removed while they are still alive and sold to transplant patients.
Danièle Gosteli says these practices should pose a problem for drug companies.
[Danièle Gosteli, Economy & Human Rights, Amnesty International, Swiss Action]:
"These pharmaceutical companies cannot guarantee the sources of organs for those patients receiving the transplant."