THREE doctors at three public hospitals have been suspended from practicing medicine for up to 12 months for colluding with middlemen to help clients illegally cash out their public medical insurance accounts, according to the health commission Friday.

Shenzhen People’s Hospital, Shenzhen No. 3 People’s Hospital and Nanshan People’s Hospital were named and shamed by the commission, each administratively fined 20,000 yuan (US$2,926) and given demerits on their medical practitioner records.

The three doctors were reported in April for forging medical records and prescriptions to earn commissions from middlemen who would resell the medications prescribed for their clients, who were not sick but wanted to get cash out of their medical insurance accounts.

According the report, the doctors and middlemen would share half of the value of the prescriptions, while the card holders would take the other half.

A doctor surnamed Chen, of the Shenzhen People’s Commission has been suspended for 12 months, removed from his post and had his prescription rights revoked by his employer.

A doctor surnamed Cui, of Shenzhen No. 3 People’s Hospital, was given a six-month administrative penalty and a doctor identified as An with Nanshan People’s Hospital was suspended for six months, dismissed as the director of the cardiac function room and ordered to have training on public medical insurance policies. (Han Ximin, Lei Kaibin)