Licensing healthcare

In many people's minds, unlicensed clinics are where illegal doctors make money at the expense of patients' lives. They are undoubtedly illegal and should be banned. But if those who go to these clinics have nowhere to get their ailments treated after the dubious facilities are removed, we need legal alternatives before shutting them down.

Eighty-five percent of 100 migrant construction workers surveyed by the Beijing News say they see doctors in unlicensed clinics when they have minor health problems because it is cheap. They know these clinics are unlicensed, but they do not mind because they are sure that doctors there will at least give them medicine. In fact, many low-income residents go to such clinics because they cannot afford to see doctors in licensed hospitals, where medical bills can be several times higher.

Of course, meeting the healthcare needs of low-income residents should never justify the illegal existence of such unlicensed clinics.