Chinese doctors in dilemma over unconditional treatment of emergency patients

The lack of a default payment reserve is hampering Chinese hospitals from carrying out the government's new requirement that anybody needing emergency treatment must be treated independent of their capacity to pay, according to a latest survey.

Ma Xiaowei, China's Vice Health Minister, has warned that hospitals should not refuse emergency treatment to patients who are unable to pay the medical bills.

However, a survey carried by the "Clove Garden" professional medical website found that only 6 percent of 1,341 doctors who responded supported the decision and 18 percent clearly opposed it.

The other 76 percent were reluctantly toeing the line but were anxious to see if the government would work out compensatory policies to pay bills not honored by patients.

The ministry acknowledged that hospitals were suffering losses as some patients could not afford emergency treatment expenses. "But hospitals should not use this as an excuse for refusing to give patients treatment," Ma said.

Hospitals complain that they face hundreds of thousands of yuan in unpaid bills every year.

"My hospital stipulates that doctors who offer emergency treatment must pay the bill themselves if their patients cannot afford it. This is a blow to my enthusiasm and it has hurt my commitment to save lives," said a doctor who refused to be named.

The stipulation is common in many Chinese hospitals, insiders say.

Yu Baofa, a doctor from east China's Shandong Province, suggested at the March session of the National People's Congress, China's top legislature, that the government should pick up the tab for all emergency treatment.

The government must introduce comprehensive healthcare measures to deal with unpaid medical bills across the nation, Yu said.

Most of the doctors surveyed suggested hospitals work with local authorities or collect charitable donations to make up the shortfall.

There has been an outcry in China about patients being turned away from hospital over payment difficulties, leading to disputes between patients and hospitals. The current unsatisfactory situation is considered to be a threat to social stability.

Source: Xinhua