Addition for clarification: The “South China Morning Post”(SCMP) is a state-controlled Chinese media outlet. In this article, however, it criticizes the Chinese health care system and even cites ordinary citizens’ posts which don’t appear to be censored, a rare move in China. This is why the article is linked here. In general, however, one should be very careful using this source.
A hospital in China has stoked controversy by charging a patient for the use of a chair they were sitting on while receiving an intravenous infusion.
On mainland social media at the end of June, a person released a billing statement by the public-funded Ningxia Children’s Hospital, which showed that five yuan (70 US cents) had been charged for a seat, Zonglan Video reported.
It is not clear how old the patient was, or what they were being treated for, but the bill showed the medication contained antibiotics.
An official at the hospital in Yinchuan in Ningxia Hui autonomous region, northwestern China, said the fee was for two days’ use of a chair by the patient who was sitting on it while receiving an infusion. […] The controversial chair fee has become the subject of heated discussions on mainland social media, after being viewed 5 million times on Douyin alone.
“Hospitals are so commercial. I feel speechless about this fee,” one online observer said.
“It’s the first time I’ve heard of this kind of cost in a hospital. Is there anything left that they do not charge fees for?” said another person.
“Are ordinary people now expected to bring their own chair to see doctors from now on,” a third said.
How very american of them.
They learn from the best.
Naw, look at the actual cost of the fee they are complaining about and the total cost of the bill. If they want to get on America’s level, they need to get those numbers up. That’s rookie shit.
I use this very phrase as a response to poor customer service/poor behavior in general on a far too regular basis.
Oh my God to be in a situation where a $.70 charge at the hospital feels egregious I fucking wish. I have insurance and I had to pay a doctor hundreds for them to tell me the tendinitis in my wrist was caused by the two cigarettes I smoked at a party a month and a half ago. I hate it here y’all
But the US prides itself on being the poster child of capitalist dystopias, China likes to pretend it’s a socialist country.
Ibn the US that would instead be 500$.
You’re supposed to use a lighter
I spent about $3,000 for two different GI doctors to tell me they didn’t know what my issues were. One visit to a dietician and she said I should eat more food. 🤦🏻♂️
I would have told you that for $1500.
Amateurs! They should’ve charged $4000 and handed you some terrible “medical food” on the way out.
Please, Tankies, keep telling me how China is a communist country.
Look, if Americans could get this outraged over an 70 extra cents on a medical bill, we’d be a lot better off.
But in America, they’d bill us an extra $2,000 for the same, and we’d just add it to our debts and carry on without even burning down an insurance company like we should be doing.
Would you argue that medical bills would exist at all in a communist country? Because that was my point.
Removed by mod
I may be an utter idiot, but it’s weird how you aren’t billed for healthcare in a lot of non-communist countries.
I guess universal healthcare is capitalism.
Free healthcare and more than a few weeks’ maternity leave is capitalism. Communism is when billionaires and private real estate, and the more of those you have, the communismer it is.
Ah, now I see why I’m an utter idiot!
Agreed. I wonder how many of them have actually been to China. I have, and it’s almost comically un-communist. Most western democracies have far more robust social supports, and I’d even say it’s easier to have a worker-owned business in the west than in China.
This medical bill is $30 USD. How the fuck is this capitalist???
For anyone mad at this…in the US the don’t just charge you .70 for a chair they charge you hundreds or thousands for the whole room.
Be more honest. You look like a fool.
Cool. You know how much a medical bill is in Canada?
$0 USD. Also $0 CAD. Also 0 Yuan.
I’m not sure why you think I’m mad about this. I’m really not the one who appears to be angry here.
The real question is how much the Canadians charge for hospital parking
My copay is $30 USD.
I don’t like this source:
Since the change of ownership in 2016, concerns have been raised about the paper’s editorial independence and self-censorship. Critics including The New York Times, Der Spiegel, and The Atlantic have alleged that the paper is on a mission to promote China’s soft power abroad.[9][10]
I don’t like the source either, and usually I never link to SCMP or other Chinese propaganda media. In that case, however, I made an excemption (maybe it wasn’t a good idea, just let me know that) as the article doesn’t promote China’s official agenda. The article is highly critical of the Chinese health system, even citing ordinary citizens’ posts, and it comes from a paper like SCMP.
in this case I would have mentioned that in the post. Just so people are informed.
That’s right. Done.
cheers! Thank you for the polite conversation on Lemmy. Which is unfortunately rare in politics/news communities :)
You are welcome 🤠
So this is China’s take on Facility fees. They just actually have the balls to list what the charge actually entailed.
Your archived link does not cover the whole article.
An official at the hospital in Yinchuan in Ningxia Hui autonomous region, northwestern China, said the fee was for two days’ use of a chair by the patient who was sitting on it while receiving an infusion.
$0.70 is a heck a lot cheaper than the consultation fees you get charged in a government subsidized medical institution in Singapore.
https://polyclinic.singhealth.com.sg/patient-care/charges-payment
Yeah, in the US they’d probably charge you $500, minimum.
