China is launching an ‘unprecedented’ crackdown on corruption in its health industry as economic woes pile up

China is launching an ‘unprecedented’ crackdown on corruption in its health industry as economic woes pile up

CNN — China has launched a sweeping anti-corruption campaign targeting its hospitals, pharmaceutical industry and insurance funds as it grapples with mounting economic challenges and long-standing public frustration about high costs in the behemoth health care sector.

More than 180 hospital leaders, including Communist Party secretaries and hospital heads, have been put under investigation so far this year, according to state agency China News Service, with at least 10 of those voluntarily surrendering since June.

That’s more than double the number of such cases last year, according to other state media reports.

Reports and rumors about the campaign have dominated local headlines and social media in recent weeks, with state news agencies broadcasting examples.

One involved the president of a small hospital in southwestern Yunnan province alleged to have skimmed more than $2.2 million off the purchase of a medical device for cancer treatment in a 2021 case recently highlighted by anti-graft officials.

Multiple provincial-level departments have come on board with the crackdown, which was publicly launched by 10 national agencies last month – a remarkable level of coordination for such a campaign, even within a decade of anti-corruption efforts under Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

Some areas have set up hotlines for phoning in tips about