More than 70 percent of patients approve of the outpatient
services provided by the country's medical institutions, according
to a survey by the China Consumer Association (CCA).
The findings of the survey were released on Friday. The survey,
from last September to November, covered 761 patients at outpatient
clinics of 178 State and private hospitals in 11 provinces and
cities.
Most of the patients said general medical services had been
upgraded, and the attitude of doctors toward patients had
improved.
Statistics from the CCA show the nation's medical service sector
has been receiving complaints and criticism since 2004.
The survey found high medical costs the major complaint of the
respondents.
"The cost for medicine seems to have run wild," said a patient
surnamed Guo, who was suffering from a common cold.
"I received injections for four days and pills, which cost me
700 yuan ($91)."
Besides costs, the survey also found a lax procedure for
dispensing prescriptions. Fifty-six percent of doctors involved in
the survey were willing to prescribe drugs without seeing the
patient.
It is against a doctor's professional ethics, said medical law
experts.
(China Daily March 3, 2007)