THE health supervision office of Buji Subdistrict, Longgang District, has admitted to “irregular practices” in the issuance of health certificates, but said it’s just individuals, not institutionalized, the Southern Metropolis Daily reported yesterday.

    In order to work in the catering industry, people are required to receive a health checkup and obtain a health certificate. Chest X-ray scans are an important part of the checkup. Government bodies that have the right to issue certificates are city and district disease control and prevention centers, as well as subdistrict health supervision offices in Bao’an and Longgang districts.

    A doctor, Fang, who used to be employed by the Buji office, tipped off the Southern Metropolis Daily that the office had been issuing health certificates to people who hadn’t received chest X-ray scans.

    Many employees from the office reportedly often ask for favors from the chest X-ray department, where Fang used to work, to sign off on the health reports of people who hadn’t received the examination, the Daily report said.

    Fang said he had reported the matter to the office’s leadership, who gave no reply. The office didn’t renew a one-year employment contract with Fang in May. Fang suspects it was an act of retaliation.

    In addition, Fang said the office had employed an unlicensed doctor, Peng, for more than 10 years.

    The deputy head of the office, Liao Bo, said that the irregular practices are just individual acts by some employees.

    “It’s not approved by the office management,” said Liao.

    Liao added that Peng acted in an auxiliary position and used to assist Fang, meaning Peng is not qualified or allowed to independently conduct a chest X-ray exam.

    However, Fang denied that Peng had assisted him.

    Peng signed several chest X-ray reports issued by the office since March as a doctor, the paper said.

    In response, Liao said it’s possible that Peng has violated related rules.

    Liao said the office still needs time to consider giving penalties to employees who violated related rules.

    (Martin Li)