China targets illegal healthcare activities

China has targeted illegal practices in cosmetic surgery, pregnancy and childbirth services, online health education and pharmaceutical procurement as part of an annual campaign to improve governance in the healthcare sector, authorities said.

The priorities were outlined in a circular recently issued by the National Health Commission and 13 other government departments in the last week, marking the launch of an annual campaign aimed at cracking down on irregularities in the medical sector.

According to the document, enforcement efforts will focus on unqualified cosmetic service providers — crash courses that train participants to perform aesthetic procedures after only brief instruction — and false advertising in the medical aesthetics industry.

Authorities have also pledged to clamp down on illegal surrogacy, fetal sex identification and the issuance of fraudulent birth certificates, as well as malpractice in online health education, including illegal advertising and improper patient referrals.

In the pharmaceutical sector, regulators said they will investigate violations such as failure to clearly mark prices, price fraud and collusion to manipulate drug prices.

Supervision of the procurement of high-value medical consumables and equipment will also be strengthened. Key areas of focus include illegal interference by decision-makers in procurement processes, contract splitting to circumvent open bidding requirements and tailoring tender specifications to favor specific bidders.

Violent attacks against medical workers and online harassment directed at healthcare institutions will also be addressed.

The circular also stressed the need to standardize data security management, strengthen end-to-end oversight of medical data and improve data review and traceability mechanisms.

"The disclosure, resale and unauthorized use of medical data is strictly prohibited, and profiteering from data will be resolutely curbed to ensure patient privacy and the security of personal information," it said.

The document further called for stricter enforcement of professional ethics and anti-corruption rules for medical personnel, as well as a tougher crackdown on illegal marketing practices disguised as academic or research activities.

The campaign directly responds to several media reports over the past year that exposed misconduct in the healthcare industry and prompted action from regulatory bodies.

In July 2025, media reports revealed crash courses that enrolled students with no medical background and provided only a few days of training in injectable treatments and other medical procedures. The reports prompted the commission to strengthen oversight and enhance cross-departmental coordination in handling violations.

In May, local authorities in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, said they discovered drugs and medical equipment used for fertility treatment at a residential complex. Health and public security authorities have since launched an investigation into the matter.

wangxiaoyu@chinadaily.com.cn