Guangdong's hospitals are forbidden from tying employees' wages to profits, according to a new rule drafted by the provincial health authorities, which is aimed at improving hospital services.

Hospitals will be subject to appraisals by expert panels and those not up to standard will be ordered to make necessary changes, the Southern Metropolis Daily said Saturday. Hospitals receiving scores of 700 points and above, out of a maximum 1,000 points, will qualify, the rule says.

Service charges will be one of the main criteria for appraisal. Hospitals must make service charges public. Each unnecessary item found in a patient's bill will cost the hospital six points.

Hospital heads will be held responsible first for medical service problems, according to the rule.

The rule also protects patients' rights including privacy, the right to choose and the right to be informed, and specialized medical checks and treatment cannot be carried out until being agreed to by recipients.

One case of malpractice will cost 10 points and a hospital will lose six points if one of its doctors is found to have taken bribes.

To curb the practice of doctors prescribing unnecessary medical examination aimed at making money, the rule stipulates medical reports of in-patients must be concluded in 24 hours, x-ray reports in 30 minutes for emergency treatment and 24 hours in other cases.

(Shenzhen Daily January 9, 2006)