New national policy for deceased organ donation in China

A group of pioneering surgeons in Shanghai, led by Professor Yan-Zhen Lin from Ruijin Hospital, made their initial liver transplantation attempt in 1978, marking the beginning of liver transplant history in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) (1). Liver transplantation in China has now reached levels of success comparable to that in Europe and North America. The most recent report from the China Liver Transplant Registry, the official national liver transplant registry of Mainland China authorized by the National Health and Family Planning Commission of the PRC, indicates as of December 2011, a total of 20,877 liver transplantation surgeries had been performed from 1980 through 2011 in 81 certified transplant centers. Of these donated livers, 93% were procured from deceased donors. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates were 78%, 65%, and 61% respectively (2). The PRC is now clearly a giant in this field.