Health care or wealth care?

    SINCE I came to China I have been really puzzled by the fact that, whenever anybody goes to hospital for any sort of problem, he will end up with an “intravenous drip.”

    Do the doctors in China know that, in the market, there are intravenous injections, muscular injections, suppositories, tablets or liquid medicines? I have asked doctors this question several times but have never been able to get a reasonable answer.

    One doctor told me that, through intravenous drip, medicines are more safe and effective. A second doctor told me that, if the patient was given a regular shot or tablets he will feel “neglected.” A third one said that more business was involved this way. More nurses were required, more plastic bottles, needles etc.

    Is this all part of the “economic growth”? John Wang via e-mail