China Considers Creating a Market for Organs

June 26, 2011 in Daily Bulletin

Economists have suggested that one way to solve the shortage in organs is to create an open market where buyers and sellers can come together and agree on a price for the organs. It seems that China is seriously considering this idea. While the ethics of such a market are hotly debated Slate notes that other, smaller countries have flirted with compensation – both monetary and otherwise – for organ donation. They include:

  • Singapore provides a health care subsidy for individuals who agree to donate their organs
  • Israel gives donors priority on the organ donation list if they ever need an organ
  • Iran pays cash for to kidney donors

Read more about the efforts of other countries and China’s experiment over here.

Source: Slate