Cheaper, fewer medicines

The recent enthusiasm over reports that a hypertension patient in Xi'an, capital of Shaanxi province in Northwest China, had his disease "cured" by medicine costing only a few cents, was more than just appreciation for the "conscientious" local doctor who had prescribed it. It was also symptomatic of people's growing discontent at overmedication.

Medical professionals have pointed out that the drug will only temporarily lower the patient's high blood pressure, given that hypertension is a chronic disease that cannot be completely cured and only controlled through continuous medication. But this has failed to stem the praise for the doctor's action.

This is because it is an open secret that in the country's current medical system doctors overprescribe because they can receive kickbacks from the pharmaceutical companies. Such a hidden practice has even bred a long chain of corruption involving the manufacturers, salespersons and doctors. It is not unusual for a patient to have to pay hundreds of yuan on medicine to treat a minor ailment such as cold.