Reason #257

While many of my Chinese friends accuse the western media of having an anti-China bias, the Chinese media is doing a good job of reinforcing negative views on China. My retort is that while it may be negative, it usually is true. You can't argue with the truth can you?

This is one of the funniest stories I've read in awhile. Along with most stories that are 'funny' in China, you also have to stick the word 'sad' in there as well. Chinese journalists wanted to test the greediness and/or incompetence of some hospitals in Hangzhou, a wealthy city in Eastern China. They submitted tea as urine samples to ten hospitals and waited for a reply. Six of the ten hospitals came back with a urinal tract infection diagnosis and recommended expensive (by Chinese standards) medicines to remedy the problem.

From the Southern Metropolis Daily: "Healthy people are diagnosed with diseases. Small ailments are said to be serious problems. Patients have become automatic teller machines for the hospitals."

It's not good to taint all hospitals and Chinese doctors with a broad brush but patronising the Chinese medical system is hazardous to your health. Reason #257 why I will never visit a Chinese hospital if at all possible.