China has sentenced 242 health workers on charges of commercial
bribery and punished 270 others with Party or political disciplines
during a nationwide crackdown on corruption in health sector.
A total of 979 cases involving commercial bribery in purchasing
and distribution of drug and medical equipments were investigated
by supervision and judicial authorities during August 2005 and
December 2006, Vice Health Minister Chen Xiaohong said here
Tuesday.
"Nearly 61.21 million yuan (US$7.85 million) was involved in the
cases," Chen said at a national teleconference.
In China, some companies and individuals offered commissions to
health officials and staff to secure contracts for substandard
drugs and medical equipments, resulting in many medical
accidents.
Illegal deals between health workers and drug dealers also
contributed to the rising medical expenses. Some doctors prescribed
expensive drugs for which they received kickbacks and caused public
distrust of hospitals.
To ease rising public complaints, China's health authorities
have been struggling to crack down on corruption in the sector.
The Health Ministry and the State Food and Drug Administration
announced last year that they will blacklist companies involved in
illicit deals.
The blacklist will be composed by provincial health authorities
and posted on their websites. Medical institutions shall be
forbidden to buy any drugs or medical equipments from the listed
companies in two years.
Vice Health Minister Chen said the ministry is working out a
long-term mechanism, which could effectively prevent such
violations, by tightening supervision and rules to regulate
procurement of medical materials and the conduct of health
workers.
(Xinhua News Agency February 28, 2007)