Comment
Social problems behind physical check-up scams
By Guo Zhichun (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-12-14 08:59
Two local undercover reporters recently received health certificates from the physical check-up department of the Chaoyang disease control center after paying hundreds of yuan to have the tests taken by strangers. One journalist didn't take a single test and the other didn't take the blood test. The Chaoyang disease control center has acknowledged loopholes in their work and promised to investigate the matter immediately.
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The existence of substitutes for physical check-ups seems to be due to demand from those who can't pass the tests. But there are also social problems behind the scams.
First, if health conditions are so important to the job, the employer should pay more attention to the physical check-up process to prevent the use of substitutes.
Second, the medical institution should heed the importance of public interest when conducting physical check-ups. They should not pursue money at the expense of public health.
The other problem is that some employers are still discriminating against hepatitis B carriers.
It has been reported that most people who look for substitutes for physical check-ups fall into this group. Although hepatitis carriers are harmless to others, many employers still require this test result from job applicants.
The use of substitutes for physical check-ups has embarrassed relevant laws. The Chinese law on the promotion of employment says hepatitis carriers are entitled to employment. But the labor contract law says employers have rights to know relevant information regarding the workers.
In reality, either the first law cannot protect the employment rights of hepatitis carriers or the second law cannot protect the rights of employers to obtain correct information.
The fact that many people are using substitutes to obtain jobs unsuitable for them also shows a further problem with ethical standards.
(Excerpts of a commentary that appeared in Beijing Times on Dec 12.)
