China has launched an organ donation program because of criticism over harvesting organs from executed prisoners.

The Associated Press reports that well over two-thirds of the organs for transplant in China come from executed prisoners, though only with prior consent. Steven Mosher of the Population Research Institute tells OneNewsNow the Red Cross Society of China is going to start a national organ donation system.
 
"The problem is that there is no history, there is no tradition of organ donation in China, and very few people are willing to allow their organs to be donated," he explains.
 
So Mosher doubts there will be a strong public reaction to the news, even though some Chinese are willing to sell organs. At the same time, the Bureau of Prisons in China makes millions of dollars from organs from executed prisoners. "And I believe the practice will continue because it's such a money-making venture, despite the passage of a law in Beijing forbidding it," he adds. "There's simply too much money at stake here."
 
Mosher adds that in most instances the prisoners were not scheduled for execution. He contends their sentences are changed by the Bureau of Prisons to immediate execution to supply the demand for organs.
 
According to Mosher, China does respond to pressure -- and that, he says, is the one remaining remedy to bring about change.