State authorities issued a statement last week publicizing a crackdown on scalpers who profit by reselling hospital appointment slots to people desperate to see specialists, according to today's China Daily.

The ministries of health and public security and state administrations of traditional Chinese medicine and industry and commerce made the announcement jointly on October 5.

In China, the only way to see a medical specialist is to queue up to buy a ticket, but the scarcity of specialists is exploited by scalpers.

They line up in the crowded registration halls of top city hospitals for 24 or even 36 hours to get appointment tickets, then sell them on at extortionate prices.

The outcome is that many patients find it hard to get appointments and have to pay a vast amount of cash for a ticket from a scalper.

According to the statement, police will help keep order in hospitals and scalpers will be prosecuted. In institutions where scalpers are most active, a police officer will be required to be present.

Punishment of and cases involving scalpers will also be published as reminders to the general public.

Standard, simplified procedures will be prioritized for hospitals, the statement said. Better hospital layouts, more registration windows and better signage were all identified as being needed.

(China Daily October 10, 2005)