A public hospital in Shandong Province, China, recently drew a small fine from local food and drug officials for selling fake medicine, with the punishment sparking criticism from the public as being insufficient.
Dazhong Net, a state-run news site, reported on Aug. 11 that the Qingdao City Chengyang District People’s Hospital was fined 692.5 yuan (about $100) for selling phony dried citrus peel, a type of traditional Chinese medicine commonly used to alleviate coughing and phlegm.
Because the product was sold out, authorities confiscated the 167.50 yuan ($24.36) that the hospital received from selling the item. Then, authorities fined the facility 525 yuan ($76.34), according to a notice released June 20 by the Qingdao City Food and Drug Administration.
The lax punishment drew attention from media and netizens.
“Why is there only a fine? Why are there no penalties for people who were involved [in the scheme], and further investigation of the channels through which the hospital acquired [fake medicine]? Why is it only being fined 600 yuan?” Another said, “The fake medicine was sold out. So the distributors and manufacturers will not be punished?”
“It seems to tell hospitals: You can keep doing it. It’s alright,” another commented.
Other medical-safety problems in China have recently come to light.
