This article is transcoded by SimpRead, original article at www.thepaper.cn
It seems everything can be counterfeited: in the mobile phone world there is Huaqiangbei, in shoes, clothing and bags there are high-quality imitations from the Putian series, and distinguishing genuine cosmetics from counterfeit ones feels like playing the most difficult “spot the difference”. But what many people don’t know is that the hospital each of us must visit in this lifetime can also have counterfeit versions.
It seems everything can be counterfeited: in the mobile phone world there is Huaqiangbei, in shoes, clothing and bags there are high-quality imitations from the Putian series, and distinguishing genuine cosmetics from counterfeit ones feels like playing the most difficult “spot the difference”.
But what many people do not know is that the hospital every one of us must go to in our lifetime may also have counterfeit versions.
In the past, there were about 2000 “Xiehe Hospitals” nationwide, but only three officially recognized authentic Xiehe Hospitals [1]. Walking into a random “Xiehe Hospital” is like a cat falling into Schrödinger’s box—you don’t know if your fate is life or death, whether waiting for you is a reincarnation of Hua Tuo or an unlicensed quack doctor.
Choosing a hospital actually starts from recognizing the real name of the hospital.
The prestigious hospital you go to may be fake
In Jin Yong’s martial arts world, there is “Eastern Heretic, Western Poison, Southern Emperor, Northern Beggar, Central Divine,” while in the Chinese medical field, there is the saying “East Qilu, West Huaxi, South Xiangya, North Xiehe, Center Tongji.”
However, the fame of hospitals has led some little-known small hospitals to get dishonest ideas, borrowing the names of these well-known hospitals to “ride on their popularity.”
There used to be “Tongji Hospitals” and “Xiehe Hospitals” blooming everywhere across the country. Back in 2007, there were more than 50 hospitals nationwide claiming to be “Xiehe,” and this number later grew to about 2000 [1][2].
In response, in February 2021, the State Administration for Market Regulation issued a document to inspect and clean up private medical institutions using well-known hospital names such as “Xiehe,” “Huashan,” “Tongji,” “Huaxi,” “Xiangya,” “Qilu,” and “Tongren” one by one [3].
Many of these “fake” hospitals named in the policy have been deregistered or renamed. Tianyancha shows that fake “Xiehe Hospitals” have almost disappeared nationwide. Among existing hospitals, 157 have changed their names from “Xiehe” to others, leaving only one hospital in Xinjiang that still has “Xiehe” in its name.
Currently, no private hospitals bear the names “Huashan” or “Qilu.” Only two or three private hospitals bear “Huaxi” or “Xiangya,” while eight or nine still have “Tongren” or “Tongji” in their names.
However, some hospitals are still tirelessly skating on the edge. For well-known hospital names such as “Renji,” “Ruijin,” “Chang Gung,” and “Zhongshan,” which were not directly mentioned in the document, impersonating hospitals have not decreased but increased.
For example, among existing hospitals, 31 formerly used “Renji” as their name, but 65 currently use it as their official name—doubling the number.
There is also a hospital in Sichuan that formerly impersonated “Xiehe” but now renames itself “Chang Gung,” with a registered capital of only 310,000 yuan, possibly not even enough to buy a medical device.
Geographically, existing counterfeit hospitals are mainly distributed in Hubei, Jiangsu, and Yunnan.
When naming themselves, these hospitals often deliberately impersonate well-known local hospitals. For example, Sichuan has several Huaxi Hospitals, and Wuhan has multiple Tongji Hospitals. Many unaware people might mistake these counterfeit hospitals as “Huaxi branch Xixi” or “Tongji branch Jiji.”
Naming is just the beginning of counterfeit hospitals’ marketing.
In Hebei, the now deregistered original “Dingzhou Xiehe Hospital” once posted signs inside its outpatient hall declaring itself “a nationwide chain hospital of the Xiehe brand,” brazenly classifying itself together with Beijing Xiehe Hospital as part of the “Xiehe system,” a so-called “moon-shot plagiarizing” [4].
In 2019, a pregnant woman visiting the hospital was induced into surgery without clear understanding, with surgical fees reaching 13,000 yuan—six times the price of a typical public hospital [1].
Beijing Xiehe Hospital has had to repeatedly emphasize that in China, only the Hospital Affiliated to Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, the Hospital Affiliated to Fujian Medical University, and Beijing Xiehe Hospital have genuine connections [5].
The gap between real and fake Xiehe hospitals is like a whole Milky Way apart.
The well-known hospital names are often impersonated precisely because their medical standards are widely recognized. Take the frequently impersonated Beijing Xiehe Hospital, which is almost an unbeatable “legend” among Chinese hospitals.
Fudan University’s 2020 edition of the “China Hospital Rankings” showed that Beijing Xiehe Hospital ranks first nationally in comprehensive hospital rankings and has held this position for many years. Of its 48 departments, 29 have reputations ranking in the top ten nationwide [6].
In addition, Beijing Xiehe Hospital is adept at solving various difficult and rare diseases. According to the 2018 published “First Batch Rare Disease Directory,” of the 121 rare diseases listed, Beijing Xiehe Hospital basically has the capability to diagnose and treat them all [7].
The other two hospitals also belonging to the “Xiehe system” are among the top 100 comprehensive hospitals nationwide [6].
It should be noted that the National Health Commission’s data shows there are more than 36,000 hospital institutions nationwide [8], so entering the top 100 among so many hospitals is an extremely difficult achievement.
Compared to the “fake Xiehe,” the real Xiehe Hospital never lacks patients and doesn’t need advertising to promote itself. In 2020, Beijing Xiehe Hospital performed 36,697 surgeries throughout the year, averaging over 100 surgeries per day [9].
Besides “Xiehe Hospital,” other often impersonated hospitals like Sichuan University’s Huaxi Hospital and Fudan University-affiliated Huashan Hospital often rank at the top of Chinese hospital lists [6].
These hospitals usually perform well across departments and have multiple specialist strengths.
For example, Huashan Hospital excels not only in dermatology and neurology but its infectious diseases department ranks first nationwide [6], while Shanghai Ruijin Hospital is world-renowned for its burn unit, pioneering successful treatment of large-area burn patients worldwide since 1958 [10].
Also, Sichuan University Huaxi Stomatological Hospital, known for dentistry and as China’s first specialized stomatology hospital, consistently ranks first nationally in dental medicine [11]. In 2020, Sichuan University’s dental program had the highest provincial science admission score of 690, just 4 or 5 points shy of Tsinghua and Peking University’s threshold [12].
Their strength largely owes to historical accumulation. These famous hospital names themselves carry significant heritage.
For instance, Beijing Xiehe Hospital has been established for over 100 years. Its predecessor was the “Union Medical College” founded by British and American nationals in the Qing Dynasty, with “Xiehe” being a Chinese translation of “Union” [13].
Tongji Hospital’s predecessor was the Shanghai German Medical Hall founded in 1907 by German physician Erich Paulun and later renamed Tongji German Medical Hall, with “Tongji” meaning mutual aid [14].
Ultimately, counterfeit hospitals can only copy the names but cannot replicate their strength and history.
Beyond high-quality imitation, there are other naming tactics
For ordinary private hospitals, the high-quality imitation route is becoming harder, and lacking a century-old history to buff their reputation, what naming approach can these hospitals take?
After analyzing nearly 30,000 private hospitals in Tianyancha, we found that hospital naming is actually quite similar to naming newborn infants with obvious preferences. “Min” (people), “Kang” (health), “An” (peace), “Xin” (trust), “Ai” (love), “Mei” (beauty), etc., are the favorite character choices for naming private hospitals.
After combining these keywords, the names sound very bright, positive, and uplifting.
Many hospital names include “Huimin” (benefiting people), “Limin” (for the people), or “Weimin” (serving the people), reminiscent of baby names like “Zihao,” “Zihao,” “Zihao” (similar sounding). Hospitals named “Renai” (benevolence), “Boai” (universal love), “Youai” (friendship) are spread nationwide, trying to convince patients of the hospital’s humanistic care.
Interestingly, just like local shops often sell “Wanghao Milk” or “Haiyi Silk Shampoo,” many private hospitals choose names like “Xiehe” (harmony), “Hexie” (cooperation), or “Hexie” (harmonious), subtly imitating Xiehe Hospital.
A certain “Xiehe Hospital” in Shandong has now been renamed Hexie Hospital. Another hospital in Gansu used “Xiehe” for nearly 10 years and now is called Xiehe Hospital.
Besides positive and sunny paths, some hospitals like to take a “high-end” style, naming themselves “International,” “Huaxia” (China), or “Century.” Some of these hospitals are indeed strong. For example, a certain international medical center in Shaanxi is comparable in scale to a top tertiary public hospital, with its otoplasty department at the global forefront.
Some hospitals also give themselves “foreign names” such as “Angel,” “Maria,” “Edward,” “Apollo,” and if you investigate further, you will find many “Maria” hospitals mainly focus on gynecology, while “Apollo” hospitals specialize in andrology.
It is worth noting that over 80% of private hospitals belong to the Putian series [15]. According to media like China Youth Daily, there are four major families in the Putian series: Chen, Zhan, Lin, and Huang, each family’s hospitals have distinct naming characteristics [16][17].
For example, the Zhan family controls many “Maria Maternity Hospitals,” the Lin family’s hospitals prefer names like “Boai,” “Renai,” and “Apollo,” while the Chen family owns numerous “Huaxia Hospitals.”
Among these Putian system hospitals, some, despite their beautiful and high-end names, may have incomplete qualifications and charge arbitrarily.
Therefore, for a hospital, most do not live up to their names. Although some private hospitals are conscientious, names alone cannot be used to screen them, especially with some counterfeit hospitals enthusiastic about marketing. Trusting hospital names and advertisements lightly might make you a “cash cow” for unscrupulous hospitals or even lead to losing both money and life.
Choosing a hospital should consider factors like doctor expertise, department qualifications, and hospital scale; the name is almost the least important factor.
[1] Yuan Ting & Ma Xiaohui. (2019). Imitating Famous Brands, Ranking Manipulation: The Detours of Private Healthcare. People’s Daily Online. Retrieved on Feb 22, 2022 from http://health.people.com.cn/n1/2019/0106/c14739-30505861.html.
[2] Wang Cheng & Wei Mingyan. (2007). More than 50 Fake Xiehe Hospitals Nationwide Use Four Methods to Deceive Patients. China News Service. Retrieved on Feb 22, 2022 from https://www.chinanews.com.cn/jk/hyxw/news/2007/01-18/856763.shtml.
[3] Office of the State Administration for Market Regulation. (2021). Notice on Resolutely Cleaning Up the Problem of Famous Hospitals Being Impersonated. China Government Network. Retrieved on Feb 22, 2022 from http://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2021-02/18/content_5587534.htm.
[4] Zhu Mo. (2020). Nationwide 2122 “Xiehe” Hospitals, Only 3 Are Genuine: How Do Fake Hospitals Quietly Make Black Money? Jiemian News. Retrieved on Feb 22, 2022 from https://www.jiemian.com/article/5384352.html.
[5] Yang Yuqi. (2018). There Are More than 1,700 “Xiehe Hospitals” Nationwide, How Many Are Genuine? China News Service. Retrieved on Feb 22, 2022 from http://finance.china.com.cn/industry/medicine/20181022/4788166.shtml.
[6] Fudan University Medical Management Institute. (2021). 2020 China Hospital Rankings. Retrieved on Feb 22, 2022 from http://www.fudanmed.com/institute/news2020-2.aspx.
[7] Beijing Municipal Health Commission & Beijing Medical Association Rare Disease Branch. (2018). Recommended Hospitals/Departments with Capabilities to Treat Diseases in the First Batch of Rare Disease Directory (2018). Retrieved on Feb 22, 2022 from http://wjw.beijing.gov.cn/zwgk_20040/ylws/201912/t20191216_1242444.html.
[8] China Government Network. (2021). Number of Medical and Health Institutions Nationwide as of the End of March 2021. Retrieved on Feb 22, 2022 from http://www.nhc.gov.cn/mohwsbwstjxxzx/s7967/202105/4f51366f90d2437a8297ccfc8129d95d.shtml.
[9] Official Website of Beijing Xiehe Hospital. Hospital Profile. Retrieved on Feb 22, 2022 from https://www.pumch.cn/centenary.html.
[10] Fang Peiyao, Zhang Qin & Liu Yan. (2018). Sixty Years Commemoration of the Burn Specialty at Shanghai Ruijin Hospital. Chinese Journal of Burns, 2018, 34 (9): 584-587.
[11] Official Website of Sichuan University Huaxi Stomatological Hospital. Hospital Overview. Retrieved on Feb 22, 2022 from https://www.hxkq.org/Html/Hospitals/Main/Description.html.
[12] China Education Online. Mobile Gaokao. Retrieved on Feb 22, 2022 from https://gaokao.eol.cn/.
[13] Official Website of Beijing Xiehe Hospital. History Museum. Retrieved on Feb 22, 2022 from https://www.pumch.cn/Uploads/xhyyysgdo/html/index.html?scene_id=80022293.
[14] Hospital Affiliated to Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology. German Physicians Founded the Hospital and Spread Western Medicine, Gaining Fame in Shanghai (1900–1937). Retrieved on Feb 22, 2022 from https://history.tjh.com.cn/schoolhistory/HMemorabiliaDetail.aspx?Id=1050.
[15] Bi Yajun. (2016). Deadly Putian System: Why It Dominates 80% of National Private Healthcare Market. Jiemian News. Retrieved on Feb 22, 2022 from https://www.jiemian.com/article/632855.html.
[16] Lu Yijie. (2015). The Medical Empire at the Vortex Center. China Youth Daily. Retrieved on Feb 22, 2022 from http://zqb.cyol.com/html/2015-04/13/nw.D110000zgqnb_20150413_2-05.htm.
[17] Guo Jie. (2016). Big Reveal of the “Putian System” Private Hospitals List. Yicai. Retrieved on Feb 22, 2022 from https://news.sciencenet.cn/htmlnews/2016/5/344932.shtm.
Source: NetEase Data Reading
Original title: “China Once Had More Than 2000 Xiehe Hospitals, Only 3 Are Genuine”