Bogus medical institute earns $1.6 mln selling awards  

医卫行业学会明码标价卖奖牌

就在今年1月11日，一个名叫“医院管理学会”的组织在北京召开了名为“2013中国医院管理学术年会暨颁奖典礼”，这里颁出的奖项全是明码标价，很多与会者就是为了一块牌子，愿意花高价前来“购买”。[查看全文]

(ECNS) -- China's state broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV) has exposed an illegal medical organization that makes money by selling fake awards, the Beijing Times reported.

CCTV said the Chinese Hospital Management Association, which claims to be a subordinate of the country's health authority, had invited numerous hospitals and medical enterprises to its annual award ceremony.

All attendees receive awards as long as they pay fees, and former officials from the National Health and Family Planning Commission will be in attendance, the association said.

Reporters found that the association had sold 321 awards this year, making nearly 10 million yuan (about US$1.6 million).

Prices vary for fake titles, including "Public Satisfied Hospital" at 22,000 yuan ($3,626), "10 National Model Hospital" at 28,000 yuan ($4,615), and "Model Hospital Chief" for 18,000 yuan ($2,966).

The association said it can also issue any made-up title a client wants.

"We say you are a model worker or organization, then you are," said an organizer at the award ceremony. "All certificates have our stamps."

Reporters learned that more than 321 hospitals and companies, including a catering firm, attended the ceremony last month.

The organizer said the association had paid a great deal for the former officials and experts to attend, and that an award ceremony had been held twice a year for about five years.

Staff at the National Health and Family Planning Commission said the association was not its subordinate, nor could it be found on the list of social organizations on the civil affairs website.

The website of the association has not been accessible since the report by CCTV.