Amid tensions in doctor-patient relationships in mainland China, a clinic in Anhui sparked controversy by promoting a half-price IV drip deal.
A video circulating online shows a red banner hanging at the entrance of a clinic in Feidong County, Hefei, with the words “Clinic is open, IV drip at half price.” Netizens raised concerns about using “half-price” as a promotional tactic for medical services, deeming it highly inappropriate.
According to reports from Jiemu News and Sohu, on Thursday (June 12), the clinic responded that the promotional banner offering a “half-price discount” had been up for two days, targeting IV therapy for common ailments like colds and coughs. Staff members stated that this was merely a marketing strategy to “increase profits.”
Officials from the Feidong County Health Committee acknowledged that such promotional methods were indeed inappropriate and said they would contact the clinic to remove the banner.
Netizens commented, “Half-price is like ‘buy one, get one free,’ which makes patients uncomfortable.” “How ironic.” “Money comes first.” “If it’s half-price, does that mean I can have more bags of IV drips?” “I’m afraid of getting another bag.” “So I’ve always wondered about the true intentions behind the promotions in pharmacies and hospitals.”
Some netizens pointed out, “You should check out how many clinics are actually owned by medical equipment companies now… To be honest, I dare not go.” “In recent years, medical recommendations have shifted away from excessive IV drips for the past decade. Many cases of colds and fevers do not actually require IV therapy.”
Others shared a slogan from ancient pharmacies, “I’d rather have five feet of dust on the medicine cabinet than a single patient in distress,” highlighting the stark contrast between past and present medical practices.