Tianjin to launch improved organ donor system   

中国内地首部人体器官捐献地方法规施行

实施《天津市人体器官捐献条例》推动会21日在天津医科大学举行。中国红十字会常务副会长赵白鸽说，今年要实现器官捐献信息的全国联网，唯有这样，才能保证器官捐献的科学、公开、透明。

Tianjin (CNS) -- China's first local regulation designed to increase organ donations through "standardization and better supervision" will come into force this March in Tianjin, according to Zhao Baige, executive vice-president of the Red Cross Society of China, on Thursday.

Under the regulation, those who are willing to donate their organs after death can submit a written application and register at the city's Red Cross branch, as well as its district and county affiliates. The registration can be modified or revoked at any time.

To encourage donations, the donor's immediate family will be given priority if they require a transplant. Civil affairs authorities will also exempt donors from basic funeral expenses.

In addition, the Red Cross branch in Tianjin said will set up a special fund to assist donors with financial difficulties.

Commissioned by the Ministry of Health, the Red Cross launched a trial organ donation system in 19 selected mainland regions, including Tianjin, in 2010.

All of China will be covered by the system by the end of this year, and a monitoring mechanism is expected to be established to improve donation work, said Zhao.