In China, Dead Inmates' Organs Sold to Tourists

China has acknowledged for the first time the scale of "transplant tourism" — in which the organs of executed prisoners are sold to foreigners — and are to force doctors to pledge to stop the practice. The announcement is the government's most serious response yet to allegations that hospitals are conducting a lucrative and expanding trade in selling organs to foreigners on tourist visas.

According to state-run press, the vice health minister, Huang Jiefu, told a summit for transplant doctors in Guangzhou this week: "Most of the organs from cadavers are from executed prisoners."

This had been repeatedly denied by the government. A ministry spokesman said, "Wealthier people, including foreign patients" could jump waiting lists because they were willing to pay more.