China Looks to Cure Hospital Corruption

A retired civil servant with stomach pains was pleasantly surprised by his recent visit to the Beijing Friendship Hospital. “I’m paying less, so of course I’m satisfied,” says the 71-year-old, who would only identify himself as Mr. Tong. “And coming to the hospital, getting a queue number, and seeing the doctor all took less than one hour.” The hospital is part of a pilot program: Patients have to pay more to see a doctor at Beijing Friendship, but drugs sold by the hospital pharmacy are cheaper, lowering the total bill. Waiting times are shorter as well.

The reforms are partly a response to a rash of violence in hospitals. Last spring a doctor in the city of Harbin was murdered by a patient. The government’s official newspaper, China Daily, has reported that in 2010 there were more than 17,000 violent incidents at hospitals and that 50 hospitals in Beijing have beefed up security. With daily episodes of labor unrest, such as the recent brief shutdown of a Foxconn Technology Group factory, the government does not want to add to the frustrations of ordinary Chinese.