Authorities banned 54,221 doctors without legal licenses from
medical practice in 2004, the Ministry of Health announced on
Tuesday.
Over an eight-month period last year, the ministry uncovered
77,033 cases of illegal medical practice, including the involvement
of 18,959 hospitals hiring unqualified medical workers, the
ministry said.
The authorities revoked the licenses of 3,477 medical service
agencies and confiscated 25.26 million yuan (US$3.05 million) in
illegal income, it said.
Although medical services will have improved after the actions,
the health ministry conceded that there are still problems.
Misleading advertisements for medicines and therapies are
widespread and there are still illegal doctors doing business in
all areas. Hospitals also still hire unqualified medical staff.
According to the ministry, the State Council will make illegal
doctoring one of the top priorities of a campaign this year in
which health authorities will work with the police, industry and
commerce administrations, drug administrations, discipline
inspection organs and others.
(Xinhua News Agency March 9, 2005)