In June, Chinese doctors faced a double blow when Cheng Yingsheng, the director of a top university hospital in China, was placed under investigation for corruption. This added to the challenges faced by medical figures in the country as part of a larger trend of high-profile arrests by authorities. Meanwhile, doctors are grappling with health-care reform being implemented by the government, which has caused concern among many in the medical profession.
One of the longstanding grievances of Chinese doctors is their low wages, with an average annual income of $13,000, much lower compared to other professionals in the country. Despite their low pay, doctors often work long hours, exceeding 50 hours per week due to a shortage of medical professionals in China. The country has 2.4 doctors per 1,000 people, significantly lower than the average of 3.7 in the OECD.
Chinese doctors also face a lack of respect compared to their counterparts in Hong Kong and Taiwan. Trust in doctors is low in China due to frequent reports of patients physically attacking medical professionals exacerbated by widespread medical scandals that have plagued the healthcare system in China. However, despite these challenges and setbacks, Chinese doctors continue to provide vital care and services to millions every day.
