A NEWLY issued regulation by the Ministry of Health requires doctors who receive "red envelopes" (hongbao), or bribes from patients, to be deprived of their qualification for medical practice, according to a report in the Beijing Youth Daily.

While applauding the new measure, many people have also expressed some doubt about its enforcement, since accepting "red envelopes" has already become a widespread practice among Chinese doctors.

"If the measure can be enacted strictly in the way the government has promised, I suspect most doctors would be threatened with being sacked," said a netizen on Sohu.com, whose cynical remark was echoed by many others.

"Although we hate to give doctors additional money, we also worry that without it, they won't provide a good service, especially when surgical operations are involved," said another netizen who called himself "Disappointed".

The "ailment" with Chinese doctors is not solely that they expect "red envelopes" from patients. Kick-backs from pharmacies earned by prescribing their medicines or by conducting unnecessary examinations using their equipment also constitute an illegitimate source of income for many doctors. According to the new measure, doctors found to be engaged in such activities will also be disqualified.

At the same time, some people are arguing for the doctors, saying that the strict measure may put them into a very difficult situation, as the legitimate income of doctors in China is very modest.

It was reported that in the best hospital in Beijing, a doctor with seven years medical experience can only earn 2,500 yuan (US$301) a monthly, which is obviously inadequate greatly given the technical skill such work requires and the long hours worked - often from 6:00am to 12:00pm.

Some people suggest that the real problem facing the medical sector is a shortage of young doctors, as many medical university graduates would rather work in pharmacies than in hospitals, since the former can provide a better salary.

Yet the Ministry of Health seems to be quite serious about the disciplinary measures. Gao Qiang, vice minister of health, said that different levels of the health sector should set up communication channels to receive reports from patients. Those who are found to be taking bribes or kickbacks will face strict punishment and may be disqualified.

Xiao Pan