Inside China Today

Hospital in Chongqing city striking it rich with Sichuan earthquake relief money

A report recently published by the Chongqing City Audit Office has shown 17 counts of various government departments misappropriating or misusing funds. The report showed that some hospitals in the city have been profiting from the May 12 earthquake national disaster, and the Public Administration Office has stopped relief funds from getting to the victims in time.
The Audit Report included various items relating to the disaster relief fund for the Sichuan Earthquake. After investigations, it was discovered that the 7th City People’s Hospital have onsold medicines donated to the hospital to patients, making a profit of $34,000 Yuan. While a number of the hospital’s leaders have been reprimanded with wage cuts, one rights advocate comments that the problem is merely the tip of the iceberg.

The Audit Report also pointed out that apart from the 7th City People’s Hospital violating regulations, Bishan County People’s Hospital and Middle Hospital have listed expert entertainment expense and staff meal expenses of $13,900 Yuan in its special disaster relief fund. In addition, the City Public Administration Office also received over $37 million Yuan in donations which were not deposited in the dedicated disaster relief fund. Another $128 million Yuan in relief grants was also not given to victims in time.

Rights advocate Chen Yun-fei who has been helping victims to rebuild their homes since the earthquake says that officials taking relief goods or money is common, and that victims are still reporting of funds being taken by officials.

Chen says that officials for the Red Cross were found to have misappropriated relief donations to build a house, but unfortunately officials are yet to improve its supervisory system and that there are still a large number of corrupt officials who ignore the law.

Chen Yun-fei says that earthquake victims have reported that in order to reduce their heavy workload, hospitals have sent patients with unhealed wounds home.

the above news is brought to you by Fang Qiong and hosted by Chris Thomas for Inside China Today on the SOH Radio Network