Health authority tightens rules on maternity care

The nation's top health authority on Tuesday vowed to further strengthen the regulation of health institutions to prevent future cases of infant abduction by medical workers.

Medical institutions, especially maternity hospitals, should strictly abide by existing rules on recording the deliveries and deaths of children, according to an online notification issued by the National Health and Family Planning Commission on Tuesday.

The original records of relevant offices must be kept in a proper manner, it said.

For infants born with diseases or defects, the clinical staff responsible should keep proper records of both diagnosis and treatment.

Doctors are required to report any birth defects or illnesses to the parents honestly and accurately, it said.

Also, local health authorities should be informed of any birth defects as well as any deaths of babies or mothers, it said.

Health institutions are prohibited from treating diseased or deformed babies without the involvement of local health authorities, the notice said.

Zhang Shuxia, a maternity doctor in Shaanxi province, allegedly sold a baby boy on July 17, one day after the boy was born, for 21,000 yuan ($3,430) to a customer from neighboring Henan province.

She is alleged to have told the parents that the baby was suffering from a serious congenital disease, persuading them to give the baby up to the care of medical services.

Police found the baby on Aug 4 and reunited him with his parents.