Reporter endures painful medical procedures to expose private hospital scam

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Dr Song of Beijing Jingtan Hospital, who diagnosed an undercover reporter with various illnesses. Photo: Screenshot via People's Daily.

Published: 7:02pm, 2 Jul 2013Updated: 3:36am, 3 Jul 2013

An undercover reporter has published an account of the scams prevalent at three private Chinese hospitals, describing in detail how he endured prostate inspections and was falsely diagnosed with a multitude of illnesses.

The reporter, a 27-year-old journalist for The Beijing News, visited three private hospitals from June 19 to June 21. According to his July 1 report, his first stop was Beijing Tongji Hospital, where a physician surnamed Peng haggled with him over prices, saying that he would have to pay 561 yuan (HK$709) for a lengthy check-up that included extensive blood tests. The reporter negotiated a price decrease to 161 yuan (HK$203) for a more general inspection, which included urine tests and an “especially painful” prostate examination.

“I did not see any disinfectant being used, nor was there any lubricant,” the reporter wrote. “As soon as the procedure began, I immediately could feel pain in my anus.”

After the examination, Dr Peng informed the reporter that he had serious anal inflammation and would need blood tests and ultrasound scans. The reporter refused.

The second hospital the reporter visited was Beijing Shuguang Hospital, where he subjected himself to another nearly “unbearable” prostate inspection at the hands of a Dr Liu, who applied “great force” and informed him that he would need to pay over 370 yuan (HK$467) to see results. Once again, the reporter was encouraged to undergo pricey blood tests and ultrasound scans.

“You come to my hospital to get treatment, I make the proper arrangements for you, and now you feel no need to do them?” Dr Liu reportedly said when the reporter protested.