CHINA has launched a nationwide anti-corruption movement in its medical sector, with multiple provinces and municipalities stepping up efforts in cracking down on corruption.

As of Aug. 8, eight provincial-level regions, including Beijing, Shanghai, East China’s Jiangsu and Shandong, Northwest China’s Shaanxi, Shanxi, Southwest China’s Tibet Autonomous Region, and South China’s Hainan Province, have revved up efforts.

In July, the National Health Commission, the National Healthcare Security Administration, the State Administration for Market Regulation and six other government agencies launched a year-long campaign to rectify corruption in the county’s pharmaceutical industry, according to a statement released by the health commission July 21.

Some senior executives of listed pharmaceutical companies have been detained or placed on file for investigation.

In a case revealed by the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Supervisory Commission, Yang Wenjun, former president of Pu’er People’s Hospital in Yunnan Province, pocketed 16 million yuan (US$2.22 million) from a supplier when the hospital bought medical equipment worth 35.2 million yuan.

Currently, at least 159 presidents and high-level officials of hospitals nationwide have been placed under investigation, double the number in 2022, media calculated.

“Presidents have the final say in many hospitals. They could say no when subordinates follow regulations, which has invalidated some rules and regulations,” said Deng Wei, a professor from the National Institute of Chinese Medicine and Development and Strategy, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine.

(www.ecns.cn)