DIY medicines symptom of serious issues

AFTER DOCTORS GAVE UP treating his mother, Ao Ning, 25, from Northeast China's Liaoning province, decided to try and cure her cancer with medicines he made himself. Beijing Youth Daily commented on Thursday:

It is a touching story of filial piety. But even though Ao had some success, it was more by accident than design. Ao admitted he wouldn't recommend others do the same unless they had no other option.

Self-made medicines also face legal risks, as they break the law. According the current laws, all non-prescribed raw materials for medicines are taken to be counterfeit medicine, which is illegal. But do-it-yourself treatments are the only option for some given the cost of drugs, especially some foreign drugs, which are unaffordable for most Chinese patients and which the general health insurance does not cover.