Digging out of debt

• Source: Global Times
• [21:45 November 09 2009]
• Comments

Patients with financial difficulties can now pay their doctor bills by digging up medicinal herbs and selling them to the Miao and Dong Ethnic Hospital in Qiandongnan, Guizhou Province. Hospital director Wu Zengtang, said, they found some poor people were still unable to afford their medical expenses, though some of the costs had already been reduced through a rural cooperative medical system.

Wu then worked out a plan for patients (or their families if they are too sick) to dig traditional Chinese medicinal herbs from the mountainous areas of Qiandongnan and sell them to the hospital at market prices to offset their health costs. The "dig your way out of debt" program began in September and so far more than 60 people have benefited by selling herbs for a total of about 100,000 yuan ($14,650). Ten patients have completely paid off their medical debts under the program.

Guizhou Daily