China’s doctors are facing major upheaval due to health-care reform

In June, Cheng Yingsheng, director of a top university hospital in China, was placed under investigation for corruption, which added to the challenges faced by doctors in the country. This was part of a larger trend of high-profile arrests of medical figures by the authorities. At the same time, doctors are also grappling with a health-care reform being implemented by the government, which has caused concern among many in the medical profession.

One of the longstanding grievances of Chinese doctors is their low wages, with an average annual income of $13,000, much lower compared to other professionals in the country. Despite their low pay, doctors often work long hours, exceeding 50 hours per week, as there is a shortage of medical professionals in China. The country has 2.4 doctors per 1,000 people, significantly lower than the average of 3.7 in the OECD, a group of wealthy nations.

Chinese doctors also face a lack of respect compared to their counterparts in Hong Kong and Taiwan. Trust in doctors is low in China, leading to frequent reports of patients physically attacking medical professionals. This lack of respect and trust is exacerbated by widespread medical scandals that have plagued the healthcare system in China.