The inspection was announced in a circular jointly issued by the Ministry of Health, the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, the State Drug Administration and the State Administration of Industry and Commerce.

Drug producers and wholesale companies employ salespersons and medical staff to conduct "health consultations" or "free treatment" for drug retailers.

But during such consultations and treatment, patients are conned into buying medicine by staff who exaggerate the severity of their illnesses and give false diagnoses, the circular said.

Such deceitful treatment is greatly affecting the health and safety of the general public, it said.

In the circular, officials called on relevant departments at all levels to severely punish those responsible for illegal medical treatment in the drug retail sector.

Drug retailers also should not advertise medicines and treatments not approved by the drug supervision and management departments.

They should not sell instruments that are not registered, have no certificate of qualification or surpass their validity period, according to the circular.

In the circular, officials urged the country's drug supervision and management departments to co-operate with the health and commerce departments to tighten control over drug companies.

Local medical systems should be improved and the health service in communities should be developed so it will be convenient for the general public to receive treatment.

In addition, efforts should be made to raise the public's awareness about various medical scams, the circular said.

And licensed medical institutions run by medicine retailing companies should be inspected carefully, the circular said.

Those that fail to meet the national standards or disobey the regulations for the management of medical institutions will be ordered to undergo restructure or even have their business certificates suspended, the circular said.

(China Daily December 13, 2001)