Thank the doctors who saved you — send thank-you letters, banners, or satisfaction ratings instead of cash gifts. The rules prohibit money, not gratitude

Paying money in advance will not buy you a better place in line. Appointment slots, beds, scarce drugs, and the scheduling of surgery must not be traded for a favor. Afterward you may thank the doctor who saved your life, but do not give cigarettes, alcohol, or a red envelope of cash. If the doctor accepts them, that breaks the rules. To say thanks, fill in a satisfaction rating with care, or write a thank-you letter that names the person, or present a banner.

Cost

It costs nothing at all. Writing a thank-you letter or filling out a satisfaction survey takes just a few minutes.

Benefit

Article 7 of the “Nine Guidelines on Ethical Conduct for Medical Staff” (No. 41, 2021) states: “Maintain orderly medical practices and ensure fairness. Uphold equality to foster a just healthcare environment. It is strictly prohibited to accept personal benefits in exchange for allocating scarce medical resources such as appointment slots, beds, medicines, tests, or surgeries.” Article 8 adds: “Build harmonious relationships without accepting ‘red envelopes’ from patients. Adhere strictly to medical ethics and self-discipline.” It further specifies that accepting gifts, cash, gift cards, securities, or other valuables from patients or relatives is forbidden. Likewise, attending paid meals or entertainment arranged by patients is prohibited. Hospitals must enforce these rules, conduct inspections, and penalize violations. Satisfaction ratings now form part of performance evaluations for all tertiary public hospitals under national policy. According to official documents, hospital satisfaction comprises both patient and staff satisfaction, measured via surveys of outpatients, inpatients, and medical staff. A unified national platform collects these results, which are then factored into hospital performance reviews. Hospitals must also handle patient complaints per regulations, establishing dedicated offices to receive, investigate, and respond to concerns regarding medical services, safety, and quality. The basis is the State Council General Office opinion, document (2019) 4: the performance index system has 4 groups of indicators. By the end of March (3) 2019, every tertiary public hospital was to be on the national satisfaction-survey platform. Complaints are governed by the medical-institution complaint measures, Order No. 3, effective 2019.

Notes

Both you and your doctors benefit from this practice. It does not mean you should never express gratitude — after a night of emergency treatment, it’s natural to want to say thanks. The key is choosing appropriate methods. Cash gifts and alcohol place doctors at risk of disciplinary action; thank-you letters, banners, and satisfaction ratings are fully aligned with official policies. If a doctor declines a gift you’ve already offered, it’s not personal — it’s his duty to refuse. Note also that offering gifts to doctors falls under professional ethics and hospital rules, whereas giving bribes to law enforcement or investigators constitutes a criminal offense under the law; these situations are entirely different; the latter is section 8, item 40. While thank-you letters and banners are widely accepted, there is no official rule stating they become part of personal or departmental records — this is merely anecdotal experience. Only the inclusion of satisfaction ratings in hospital performance assessments has solid policy backing. Should you have doubts about treatment, you may request immediate medical record sealing and retain copies for yourself see item 6 of this section (sealing the record) and item 5 (keep your own copies).

Sources · 3

1. 国家卫生健康委、国家医保局、国家中医药局 (2021). 关于印发医疗机构工作人员廉洁从业九项准则的通知（国卫医发〔2021〕41 号）. 国务院公报 gov.cn/gongbao/content/2022/content_5678098.htm
2. 国务院办公厅 (2019). 关于加强三级公立医院绩效考核工作的意见（国办发〔2019〕4 号）. gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2019-01/30/content_5…
3. 国家卫生健康委 (2019). 医疗机构投诉管理办法（委令第 3 号）. gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2019-10/08/content_5…