China will no longer continue its practice of removing the organs of prisoners after they are executed, a Chinese official told BBC News China.
Huang Jiefu told BBC News China that starting November, only those inmates who voluntarily wish to donate their organs under a new national donation system will be subjected to this decade-long practice.
Based on previous estimates from state media, BBC News China said that prisoners in the country account for two-thirds of organ donations.
BBC News China also stated that China denied that it used the organs of prisoners many years ago but admitted it later on.
The state media told BBC News China that there is an average of 300,000 patients who are in need of organ donations yearly but only 10,000 are able to receive them.
Mr. Huang, one of China's leading surgeons and the doctor in charge of handling organ transplants confirmed to BBC News China that his country's health ministry would start using organs from voluntary citizens starting November.
He also added that it is expected that 150 Chinese hospitals will participate in this decision.
Mr. Huang told the state-run Global Times that he believes it was time for China to exercise a more ideal organ donation system.
