China’s bid to end bribery for doctors opens debate on ethics and pay

November 25, 2008

China’s new bid to end corruption among non-government employees, especially doctors, has touched a sensitive nerve of the Chinese society in which poor doctor-patient relations have long been a topic, and where doctors are on low salaries.

Medical staff may face commercial bribery charges if they receive money or other forms of reward from sales agents of pharmaceutical companies or suppliers of medical equipment, according to a judicial interpretation by the Supreme People’s Court (SPC) and the Supreme People’s Procuratorate released on Monday. (Xinhua)