Belt, Road nations set up alliance on organ donation

An international cooperative alliance on organ donation among countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative was set up over the weekend.

China is willing to share its experiences in establishing an organ donation and transplantation system with other countries, said Wang Hesheng, vice-minister in charge of National Health Commission.

China hopes to establish a stable, multitiered international cooperation and exchange mechanism for organ donation and transplantation, Wang said during a launch ceremony on Saturday of the Belt and Road Cooperation Alliance for Organ Transplantation in Kunming, Yunnan province.

The country is willing to intensify international cooperation in the sector, including policy sharing and talent training, to make greater contributions to the international society in organ donation and transplantation, he said.

Huang Jiefu, former vice-minister and chairman of the China National Organ Donation and Transplantation Committee, said the alliance consists of 61 members involved in the BRI, and will serve as an important platform for cooperation.

Many countries involved in the initiative lack experience in organ donation and transplantation, and some have requested China's help in establishing their own systems.

"Experiences from China can benefit organ donation and transplantation in BRI countries by catalyzing progress in medical technologies and services, and … the alliance will serve to build and drive the development in organ donation and transplantation that is aligned with the guiding principles released by the WHO," said Francis Delmonico, president of World Health Organization Task Force.