China orders probe into pills made from dead infants

The matter was brought to light after South Korean media found that Seoul customs had confiscated a batch of Chinese medicines containing dried up remains of dead infants.

Deng Haihua, the Health Ministry spokesperson, said, "China has strict regulations on disposing of the remains of infants, foetuses and placentas. We are firmly against trading of human bodies or organs. We demand that health departments at all levels strengthen administration in this regard."

Allegations from South Korea
After a documentary was aired on SBS TV, a major national television network in South Korea, showing production and trade of capsules containing dead infants matter, the Chinese health ministry ordered a probe into the matter.

According to the South Korean sources, a big player from the Chinese medical centres is involved in making of such pills. These were purchased for sale by some members of the Korean ethnic group residing in China.

The SBS TV reporters have also backed allegations with claims that DNA tests conducted on the material proved that almost 99.7 percent of the content matched with human DNA.

Unfortunately the Chinese hospital staff also play an integral part in this whole scam, as the tie up pharmaceuticals are informed of a “deceased baby case” that can be processed further for manufacture.

According to the documentary SBS ran, “The medicine companies store the dead babies in a ‘normal family’s refrigerator,’ so as to be undiscoverable, and when they are ready to use the dead baby, they put it into a medical drying microwave. Once dry, they grind the dead baby up and put the powder into a pill capsule.”

South Korea’s take on the story
The Korean ethnic groups, accused of being involved in the scam, have been linked to Jilin, Liaoning and Heilongjiang provinces of South Korea.

An official from the South Korean embassy addressed the media stating, "South Korean customs are trying to track down any buyers or sellers. The authorities do not have any evidence so far that supports the documentary's allegation, but human ingredients would certainly be considered illegal in South Korea - if it is really happening."

However, professor Zhang from the Third Hospital of Jilin University disagreed upon possibilities of such horrific practices.

China’s probing matter
"We have ordered the Department of Health of Jilin Province to launch an immediate investigation into the reported case," the ministry spokesperson, Deng stated.

The National Traditional Chinese Medicine Strategy Research Project head, Jia Qian, said that Chinese medicines have been using placenta and umbilical cord for medicinal preparations for ages but use of dead humans and foetuses is strictly a gory crime.