China says it punished more than 1,200 health workers last year for such corruption as taking commissions from drug companies and accepting bribes from patients.
The official Xinhua news agency says investigators from China's Health Ministry uncovered more than 200 cases of hospital staff members buying and selling medicine for personal profit. The health workers are said to have received $1.3 million illegally.
Authorities also found that some doctors took bribes for surgeries, even after patients paid their hospital fees. More than 800 health workers were punished for charging illegal fees.
China's Health Minister Gao Qiang said at a nationwide health meeting Saturday that most hospital staff members are doing a good job. But he says those who become corrupt will be punished without mercy.
Some information for this report provided by AFP.
