tea for two

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BEIJING (Reuters) - A group of Chinese reporters came up with a novel idea to

test how

greedy local hospitals were -- pass off tea as urine samples and submit the

drink for

tests.

 

The results: six out of 10 hospitals in Hangzhou, the capital of the rich

coastal province of

Zhejiang, visited by the reporters over a two-day period this month concluded

that the

patients' urinal tracts were infected.

 

Five of the hospitals prescribed medication costing up to 400 yuan ($50), the

online

edition of the semi-official China News Service (www.chinanews.com) said in a

report seen

on Wednesday. Of the hospitals, four were state-owned.

 

" It makes one shiver all over even though it's not cold, " the China News Service

said after

its reporters and colleagues from Zhejiang Television tested the hospitals.

 

The Southern Metropolis Daily newspaper said in a commentary on Wednesday:

" Healthy

people are diagnosed with diseases. Small ailments are said to be serious

problems.

Patients have become automatic teller machines for the hospitals. "

 

The failure of health reforms and rising costs of medical care have sparked

social

discontent and become flashpoints for unrest in the world's most populous

nation, where

millions cannot afford to consult doctors or buy medicine.

 

Health Minister Gao Qiang has accused greedy hospitals of charging excessive

fees and

prescribing unnecessary and expensive medication.

 

Market reforms in the past two decades have cut off state subsidies to many

hospitals and

left the health care system in need of life support.

 

State media have reported patients committing suicide because they cannot afford

exorbitant medical costs.