A rare display of public anger is unfolding in China over the quality of domestically produced drugs. A prominent Shanghai surgeon pointed to anesthetics that do not put patients to sleep. A respected Beijing cardiologist questioned blood pressure medication that failed to regulate. A former editor at a leading online health platform went as far as to accuse domestic drugmakers of fraud. The concerns spilled out into public discussions this week when some top doctors and hospital leaders called on the government to change how it buys drugs for its public hospitals. The outburst of scrutiny, unusual in a country where the authorities keep a tight grip on public criticism of the government, was a rebuke of Beijing’s campaign to lower medical costs. Officials are working to shore up China’s national health care system, which is under financial pressure in part because of a rapidly aging population.
Source link
