US Doctor Shocked At Chinese Hospital Procedures, Says It Resembles a Factory Plant

US Doctor Shocked At Chinese Hospital Procedures, Says It Resembles a Factory Plant
Oct 14, 2014 By eChinacities.com

Editor’s Note: This article, translated from wenxuecity.com gives us a view of the Chinese medical profession through the eyes of Richard, a US doctor. The article compares the differences in approach and bedside manner between the two countries, and questions the Chinese medical system’s reliance on tests and examinations.

Richard, an American family physician, has had six different medical examinations while in China at a Chinese hospital. He stated that Chinese hospitals were more like a factory- a very effective industrial plant. “And within the plant,” he said, “I am like cattle in the slaughterhouse, walking through the pipeline.” In the eyes of this American doctor, the experience of getting an examination in the Chinese medical system is chaotic.

Hospital Staff are Salespeople

At the beginning of the examination, there was no doctor or nurse available to ask Richard about his health problems, do a risk assessment and then decide what needed to be examined. Speaking bluntly, Richard said that he believes that the hospital staff are like salespeople rather than professionals who are able to recommend legitimate treatment courses from doctors.

A female college student named Yuan Shi waited in the advisory area during her medical examination. She faced a two meter long price list. In the first column, there were different categories of treatments and services priced from 100-300 Yuan. In the second column were medical packages labeled from A through J in ten different categories. The prices were divided by category with packages in Class A costing 355 Yuan and Class J costing 2650 Yuan. There are only these simple categories, with no age, gender or other distinguishing factors.

US Doctor Shocked At Chinese Hospital Procedures, Says It Resembles a Factory Plant
Photo: Michael Coghlan

Consultants “Are Not Professional,”- Their Only Goals are Transactions

Yuan Shi saw that one of the categories on the list was “HCV (hepatitis C virus).” She went to the staff desk and asked them what that particular test was. The staff working at the desk did not know. She asked about a different test on the list, for h.pylori (heliobacter pylori). “It’s a stomach thing,” said the desk worker. “You have to do an examination and the doctor will tell you,” the worker added. The staff workers impatiently sent her away to run tests.

Doctors Deliberately Mislead Patients

64 year old Yao Hui received a deal to pay “28 Yuan for a medical exam worth 350 Yuan.” He went to the hospital and the doctor said his prostate problem, which Yao had already been aware of, was “very serious.” The doctor said he needed to examine him further and in the end prescribed him over 20 different boxes of drugs. Yao ended up maxing out his health insurance card. He later went to another hospital to review the diagnosis and was told by a different doctor that he had “benign prostatic hyperplasia,” which is common for older men and not a serious ailment.

Unnecessary Examinations on All Levels

Richard found that there were a lot of unnecessary medical tests during his examinations. In the United States, physicians often need to spend a lot of money to do medical tests. However, in many Chinese medical institutions doctors only need to spend a few hundred RMB to do certain medical tests such as enzyme tests for cancer, tests for h.pylori, examinations for treatment by Chinese medicine for problems with the patient’s abdomen, carotid artery, heart, prostate, uterus and more as well as CT scans, X-Rays and advanced brain scans. The business philosophy of Chinese medical institutions is about making high cost tests cheaper for a small profit but high turnover.

“One of the most surprising parts of my examination was the full body thermal scan, I had never seen a machine for it before in a hospital in the United States,” said Richard. “And there was another machine called a Quantum FAFA bio-energy screening tracing system. You sit in front of the machine and put your hands on top of it. The operator presses a button. The whole process takes less than one minute.”

“An ultrasound of the neck is a test for a patient who is over 60 years old or when the patient has a heart problem,” said Richard. “I was given a Transcranial Doppler (TCD). Why would you give a young 30 something patient a TCD? A TCD is a screening procedure to examine stroke patients. The use and proliferation of such tests are a waste of public investment in health.”

In addition, CT scans are harmful to the health of young people. Young patients should only have CT scans once a year. If they are exposed to too much radiation it may increase their risk of cancer.

Reports are Not Detailed or Misleading

According to various tests, one Chinese medical institution drew up four reports on various levels of heavy metals, such as mercury levels, found in different patients’ bodies. Richard said, “This is an impressive and long report,” but added that in his expertise, the tests had not been very strict- in order to test for heavy metals in the body you would have to do a blood test or hair examination. Such tests were not detailed in the report.

In Richard’s medical examination package there was a blood test to check for tumors. “I know a lot of Chinese people are concerned about and specially ask for this test, but tests for cancer markers in healthy patients are often very inaccurate.”

In fact, the American Cancer Society believes that the test to check for tumors should be mainly used for patients already suffering from cancer in order to assess their response to treatment or to check recovering cancer patients for signs of relapse. Chinese people are often not aware of this. They want to know whether their results are normal or abnormal and are frightened when given misleading test results. It is not an accurate test to use to check general health.

The Difference between the Two Countries: Believing in the Tests vs. Believing in the Doctors

China:

Foreign doctors such as Richard are often surprised by Chinese people’s enthusiasm for physical examinations. In China, medical examinations mean that the patient is sent into different rooms like the CT room for various tests. Therefore, most of the examination is done by the machines, not by the doctor. Chinese people do not go to family doctors and Chinese doctors are trained to treat disease rather than to help patients prevent disease.

USA:

Americans have annual physical examinations, but they do not pay for specific large medical packages like patients in China. Americans go to their family doctor first and then based on their doctor’s advice they decide to go in for tests. Usually these tests are to check cholesterol, blood pressure, or blood sugar. There are no required annual ECGs, CT scans or ultrasounds.

In other countries, a physical examination must be booked a month in advance. When the patient arrives, he or she must give their personal information including basic information, medical history, medication history, and so on. The doctor will explain any medical issues to the patient and tell them in detail what brought on these issues, what will happen in the future and how to adjust the patient’s lifestyle. Subsequently, the medical center will give the patient a detailed report including when to book another examination, changes in diet a patient should make, and other precautions the patient must make. 

Richard believes that the biggest differences in medical examinations between the two countries stems from the fact that in Chinese medical culture, tests are more important than patient-doctor communication. It is very sad, he said, that Chinese people do not believe in their doctors. The use of machines and tests should only be a part of the examination. They can only reflect the state of the body in that particular moment and often cannot explain a patient’s problem.

Source:  http://www.wenxuecity.com/news/2014/09/22/3616409.html

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Keywords: American and Chinese Medical systems American Doctors in China

17 Comments

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frvioque

This is one of the reason next year I go back to Europe. Why do chinese are trying to leave china???, I'm sure there are some obvious reasons.

Nov 11, 2014 18:02 Report Abuse

Englishuk

This is one of the best articles i have read. It highlights the many problems that patients face . I have a close friend who has been in hospital for over 6 weeks, teatement with oxygen for breathing difficulties. and various drug treatments. she is better now, but her feelijng that she may just have allergic asthma seems on the ball. but the doctors still cant give her a dignosis. the cost of her treatment has been extortionate to say the least. the doctors would not look into diagnosing asthma, but they subjected her to a barrage of tests , for cancer, food poisoning etc etc. i feel if she was in a better hospital and theere are some especially for foreigners, or in a uk hospital, her diganosis and treatment would have been treated efficiently, rapidly and with due care to the patient to acheive a good outcome. one thing my chinese friends always moan about is the state of hospitals and irrelevant testing with associated costs.

Oct 17, 2014 17:53 Report Abuse

Torchier

Ihd lived in China for 12 years and I felt I had pretty good treatment from the hospitals and their staff. There are different levels of care in the hospitals in China, so if a patient is going to the cheapest hospital there could be problems. I had staff from the Foreign Affairs Dept. or teachers who mde sure I went to the best hospital in Dalian or Weifang Shandong.Dalian has a special hospital for foreigners and fees to match if you have the insurance to pay for that level of care. I walked in off the street into a medium level eye hospital in Dalian, waited about 15 minutes while Chinese were treated and then promptly placed in front of the usual optometry diagnostic machine. The diagnosis was a return of keratitis and the cost of the whole procedure with prescription was less than 100 rmb. The diagnosis and explanation were very professionally done and I was out in less than half an hour. Thefee to see a doctor in other hospitals was always around 10 rmb and the pharmacy prices could vary from 50-200 rmb depending on the seriousness of the medication required. I once had a serious cold from Guangzhou that no western medicine could alleviate so I went to a traditional medicine shop where they listened to my description of this cold, selected various herbal ingredients , placed them on a scale and said the charge would be 200 rmb and to come back in 2 days for the medicine. They turned all those dry ingredients into a soup in about 10 plastic bags to be warmed up in hot water and consumed. It took about 4 bags and that cold was blown away. That medicine was still good a year later for another cold. I did have a CT scan for a mold infection that affected my lungs; I was not completely satisfied with the interpretation of that scan. It may take a generation for the technicians to accurately read what these sophisticated medical devices are providing. I had a set of dentures made in Dalian's dental clinic for foreigners that are still in use 6 years later and could not be replicated in Shandong; the dental technician was honest and said that level of skill was beyond their hospital at that point. Today in Vancouver Canada I attempted to purchase the medication for lung clearance made by Seretide in England; the 100 level of that aspirator cost me 140 rmb across the counter at an ordinary pharmacy in China. Today a Korean pharmacist said that medication was obtained by prescription only, so I needed to consult a doctor $80 and return to his pharmacy and pay over $120 for this same medication!! So to buy one round dispenser of this med in Canada will cost me over 1,000 rmb and some say the Chinese are in it simply for the money!! I have no complaints about the Chinese system in their better hospitals. I had no insurance for the last 10 years there and my costs were not out of line.

Oct 17, 2014 09:38 Report Abuse

frvioque

I have Been living in dalian for almost 7 years and the hospitals are pretty overcrowded, and the quality is pretty bad, I have been in one of the best hospitals in dalian with even blood and body hair on the floor at the same time that the doctor checked me. Just no comments!!

Nov 11, 2014 18:18 Report Abuse

nzteacher80

I've been in China for 6 years and I've never had a mold infection in my lungs. You must live in sub-standard housing and work here illegally.

Dec 07, 2020 15:44 Report Abuse

WendyInChina

One comment, one question. I was almost killed in South Africa (by a Chinese Driver) I came to China to sort my health issues out because I cant afford the treatments in SA. So Im grateful that it is afordable - it might not be so good but its something.... I've had strep throat for 3 months, have been to several doctors, on my 7th anti biotics course now. What do I do next? Chinese Doctors and Chinese Medicine is not working. And dont tell me to drink more water. BS!

Oct 16, 2014 20:54 Report Abuse

WendyInChina

One comment, one question. I was almost killed in South Africa (by a Chinese Driver) I came to China to sort my health issues out because I cant afford the treatments in SA. So Im grateful that it is afordable - it might not be so good but its something.... I've had strep throat for 3 months, have been to several doctors, on my 7th anti biotics course now. What do I do next? Chinese Doctors and Chinese Medicine is not working. And dont tell me to drink more water. BS!

Oct 16, 2014 20:44 Report Abuse

RiriRiri

For the sake of fairness and accuracy: the original article is about "health examination centers", not about "hospitals". That's a big difference. Not that the situation of regular hospitals would be something to be proud of, but private examination service centers like iKang and the like are like a whole other level down the path to acceptable healthcare.

Oct 16, 2014 16:20 Report Abuse

Guest341146

I would like to elaborate on couple things: 1. China has a large population and to manage this large population is not easy. 2. China health care system has passed through four stages since the collapse of the commune system and still more need to be done. 3. The unbundling of fees causing this kind of health care 4. The bonus system that still exists in Chinese hospitals causing this kind of health services. 5. Government lifting their hands on the management of the hospitals and letting the upper management to run and make their profit causing this type of practices. 6. the red envelope that patients' relative has to give to doctors to make sure proper treatment from the physicians. Despite all these factors and others still the population is surviving and still the health care services are provided to all the population. So, if we apply all the factors that are facing the Chinese health care system in the US, the whole US health care system would have collapsed long time ago. What I am trying to point to is that every health care system has their own influencing factors, socio-economic-political geo-system and pros and cons. So, I would appreciate that people stop comparing and criticizing China health care system.

Oct 16, 2014 11:52 Report Abuse

RiriRiri

1. Oh, this one I like, directly from the top ten of paid apologists excuses handbook. "But China has too many people". Okay, let's put aside the fact it's no one's fault but China's own: is it a valid reason to stop giving a shit about anything? I never saw the high population being a problem for mass repressive measures or crowd control. But it is one for healthcare. 2. Four stages? From what... nonexistent to barely existent, to hardly existent to yet another business? 3. No. You know what causes this kind of healthcare? Two words: money, and accountability. Healthcare is hell of a a good moneymaker, especially if you don't need to care about "health", or "care". 4. Yeah, give in one small defect so you can hide the big picture better. You had good training. 5. Sure, it's all the people's fault. They are the ones to blame. "So, if we apply all the factors that are facing the Chinese health care system in the US, the whole US health care system would have collapsed long time ago" Suuuuuuuuuuure. Let's say the US healthcare has at least this ability to collapse, because, contrarily the Chinese healthcare system, it existed at some point. Indeed the Chinese healthcare system can take any kind of strain, since it's completely care free. Last two sentences are just a rephrasing of the perpetual "China is different, Chinese body is different, please do not compare unless it advantages China". Seen before.

Oct 16, 2014 15:11 Report Abuse

royceH

Chinese hospitals....hahahahahaha.... Chinese everything....ditto...

Oct 16, 2014 10:11 Report Abuse

rainiersales

I've you've lived long enough in China, the story is not surprising anymore...sadly.

Oct 15, 2014 09:42 Report Abuse

nzteacher80

Some sobering reading. I remember my first visit to a Chinese hospital. The city I live in has been described to me as somewhere in the tier 5-8 vicinity. I had food poisoning. I'm the type of person who turns up to work no matter what but the idea of shitting my pants in front of a bunch of kids was a bit too much so I told my boss that I had to go home. He said that I must go to the hospital. I tried to argue but it was pointless. When I saw the doctor I was slack-jawed with pie-eyed amazement. He looked like he'd just crawled out of bed. His hair was a rats nest and his white jacket was crumpled and had flecks of whatever he had for lunch down one side. He was chain smoking cigarettes. There was a pile of stubbed out cigarettes on the floor beside him - some 20 to 30 in all. There were around 7 other patients in the consultation room. They had immediately taken an interest in me. The doctor proceeded to ask my translator what the problem was. I relayed to him that I had food poisoning. The other patients moved in to listen to the conversation. He asked if I'd had diarrhea. I said yes. The locals murmured and discussed my diarrhea. He asked how many times I'd had it today. I said I'd had it eight times. More murmuring and fascination from the other patients. He said I should have an IV. I said no. He said I should take pills. I said okay. I didn't take the pills.

Oct 14, 2014 18:56 Report Abuse

Torchier

It was too bad you had to find work in a tier 5 city. Some foreigners go the cheapest route and I have no doubt you did. You got the level of care you paid for. I was in a tier 2 city Dalian Liaoning and a tier 3 city Weifang Shandong and both cities had modern hospitals which compared well with Canadian cities. That doctor was probably overworked in a hospital for the poor where you had no business being. Where did you eat? I lived in China for 12 years and never once had food poisoning because I paid for better restaurants. Some teachers play at being poverty stricken students living in garrets for their entire lives. I think you are one of them. I bet you buy $600 cars and expect them to run forever without any money being spent. You are a hazard to yourself.

Sep 13, 2020 06:01 Report Abuse

nzteacher80

It was an anecdote. I'm not crying about it. I though it was funny. You sound like some kind of keyboard tough guy who cruises around telling people he's been in China for 12 years. Woop de fucking doo.

Dec 07, 2020 15:42 Report Abuse

coineineagh

good article. it touches on many of the problems the doctor observed. there are more problems of course, and their root causes lie within Chinese culture. normally, i'd expect the people to engage in deep introspection to solve these severe healthcare lapses. but it isn't likely to happen. people rely more on tests bevause they know doctors are greedy and untrustworthy. it's no surprise that doctors use these bogus/unnecessary/undetailed tests as persuasion tools. the patients aren't innocent victims either. they want every possible medication to stay alive at all costs. so, antibiotics are among the many perscribed drugs, which increases the risk of cultuvating multi-drug-resistent pathogens. but who cares about anybody else: gimme my antibiotics and the world be damned!

Oct 14, 2014 10:03 Report Abuse

Samsara

Devastating! I love the part about using a series of irrelevant diagnostic machines to give the appearance of real medicine. I wonder if they have a machine that goes "ping".

Oct 14, 2014 09:14 Report Abuse