Recently, the Tianjin Health Commission published a document that outlines the fee standards for acquiring donated human organs, with an aim to enhance transparency in this critical medical procedure. The regulation defines organ procurement as a comprehensive process conducted by the Organ Procurement Organization (OPO), which follows legal protocols and established practices in the field. This procedure encompasses several essential steps, including assessing donor health, maintaining tissue samples, evaluating organ functionality, and managing the preservation and transport of the organ prior to transplantation.
The guidelines assert that OPOs must operate under the principles of public welfare and non-profit. Consequently, the fee structures are designed to reflect reimbursement of actual costs incurred, while considering the technical services delivered and the financial capability of the public. Direct costs associated with organ procurement primarily involve expenses related to donors, as well as their families.
Such costs cover a range of activities, including health assessments of donors, tissue sample retention, organ evaluations, and the logistics of transporting and storing the organs. Additionally, these costs may encompass travel, accommodation, and even financial compensation for the relatives of donors as they navigate the organ donation process.
obtaining a liver will cost 250,000 yuan (approximately $34,500), a kidney 200,000 yuan, a heart 80,000 yuan, and a cornea 12,000 yuan. The Commission indicates that hospitals performing transplant surgeries must manage these fees transparently, ensuring that all related costs are incorporated into their financial systems, thus preventing any off-the-books transactions.
Hospitals that conduct the organ transplants are required to promptly remit the collected fees to the OPO. In turn, the OPO is responsible for appropriately distributing the procurement costs to the relevant hospitals and associated entities, including the Red Cross Society of China, as well as to the families of the organ donors.
The intention of these standards is to regulate the financial aspects of acquiring donated human organs, improve accessibility to organ transplantation services, and uphold the foundational public welfare principles guiding human organ donation practices. This new regulation will take effect on February 1 and will remain in force for a duration of two years.
0 Comments
Name
Comment Text