Beijing United Family Hospital and Clinics [和睦家医院]

  • Address:2 Jiangtai Lu, Chaoyang District, Beijing
    北京市朝阳区将台路2号
  • Contact: 010 5927 7000 (Main), 5927 7120 (24 Hour Emergency  
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Description

Shunyi Branch
Add: Room 818, Pinnacle (Rixiang) Plaza, Tian Zhu Development Zone, Shunyi District, Beijing
Tel: 010-80465432
Fax: 010-80464383

Reviews (1)

1
Guest2056854
Feb 13, 2013 14:51

Long story short: I went to see a GP because I had a very minor health problem, was incorrectly diagnosed, given medicine before they even knew what the problem was, left with a 7500 RMB invoice.

Basically, I had a blister in my mouth that I wanted to go away and went there to see a GP (American). The doctor quickly diagnosed it as <em>herpes</em> (which at the time struck me as being very unlikely, but of course I trusted the medical professional's advice) and took a few lab tests. She also prescribed some herpes medicine - even though it was not confirmed that it was in fact herpes at the time. Anyway, I went to the cashier to pay and was shocked to be handed a 7500 RMB invoice. The herpes medicine alone was 4000. Well, I paid it because I trusted the GP and thought this was what I needed. And then I crossed my fingers that my insurance would cover it!

I came home and began thinking it was really odd that they prescribed me medicine at this time and didn't wait for the lab tests. So I decided not to take the medicine before the lab tests came back. Both came back. Both negative for herpes. I then wanted to return the (unopened) medicine and save my insurance company the 4000 RMB but was told at the cashier that it was not permitted according to Chinese law. I got angry and complained to the billing department and they agreed that a mistake had been made and I could return the medicine for a refund.

However, I still had the blister in my mouth. Decided to leave it until I returned back to my country for Xmas. There I had a doctor look at it and she bursted out laughing when I told her that a GP in China diagnosed it as herpes. She was shocked that any doctor would even consider herpes in this particular case. Turned out the blister was just a very common <em>muccocele</em> (blister with a salivary gland stuck inside). She removed it through a very small surgery.

United Family Hospital not only diagnosed me incorrectly but they also prescribed very expensive medication <strong>fully aware</strong> that Chinese law makes it impossible for customers to return it again for a refund. I suppose the logic is this: foreigners in China have medical insurances that usually cover everything so they don't want to go through the trouble of returning stuff and complaining about it and so on... Easy money for the hospital.

I sent an official complaint to the hospital asking two questions:
1. Don't you think there's an ethical concern in the way you do business?
2. Do doctors at your hospital receive commissions based on how much medicine they sell/prescribe?

I received a formal apology but both of the above questions were left unanswered.

It's a money machine. You go there, they say "maybe it's this, maybe it's that", prescribe medicine, take tests. "Oh, it didn't help?" Maybe try something else. Then finally you might get referred to a specialist which will be even costlier.

The sicker you get, the more money they make. A beautiful business model, isn't it? I feel bad for those insurance companies though.... Poor things....

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