Organ Donation Center Chairman: Balance in Supply and Demand Achievable with Cross-Sector Cooperation

(Central News Agency, Reporter Shen Peiyao, Taipei, June 6) The case of Dr. Chen Yaoli brokering organ transplants in China has sparked a discussion on organ supply and demand. Chairman Lee Ming-che of the Organ Donation and Transplantation Registration and Patient Autonomy Promotion Center emphasized that 'balance' does not mean immediate one-to-one satisfaction, but rather completing transplants within a certain waiting time, as seen in countries like the United States, and that this requires cooperation from all sectors.

Dr. Chen Yaoli was sentenced by the Changhua District Court to 2 years in prison, with a 5-year suspended sentence, for illegally profiting NT$14.66 million from brokering organ transplants in China, in violation of the Human Organ Transplant Act. The Ministry of Health and Welfare has confirmed the revocation of his medical license, marking the first case in Taiwan of license revocation for illegal organ brokering.

Chairman Lee Ming-che's recent remarks about an 'imbalance in domestic organ supply and demand' sparked public discussion, with some voices suggesting that Taiwan can never achieve a balance and that this should never be used as an excuse to join the complicit structure of inhumane organ trafficking.

Speaking to the media before attending the 'Remember Me 2026 Organ Donation Memorial Concert' on the afternoon of June 6, Chairman Lee stated that the question of whether 'Taiwan can never achieve a balance in supply and demand' is right or wrong should not be judged by simplistic concepts.

Using kidneys as an example, he explained that 'balance' does not mean immediate one-to-one satisfaction, but rather maintaining kidney transplant waiting times at around 2.5 to 3 years, as in mature countries like the United States. This, he said, is an achievable goal from a medical professional perspective.

Chairman Lee noted that there are currently about 8,500 people waiting for transplants in Taiwan. If the organ donation conversion rate is increased from the current level to 60% or even 80% (3 to 4 times the current rate), the number of transplantable patients per year could exceed 1,200. Under the assumption that no new patients are added to the waiting list, it would take only about 6 years to clear the current waiting list.

'This is the direction we should strive for, not to say it's forever impossible,' Chairman Lee said. He emphasized that achieving a balanced organ donation ecosystem is not a distant goal, but it is not the responsibility of a single doctor or organization. It requires strong horizontal cooperation from the public, society, the medical sector, and the government.

Chairman Lee believes the government should pursue both 'increasing supply' and 'reducing demand.' In addition to legal measures to prevent malpractice, a fair and just distribution mechanism should be implemented. He hopes the public will not be swayed by the simplistic notion that 'balance is impossible' and will maintain confidence in the improvement of the organ donation system, working together to improve the domestic organ donation environment. 1150606