Public information boards were set up at two private hospitals in Shenzhen yesterday to give patients an idea of what treatments the hospitals are allowed to offer.

"We will try to install the information boards in some 30 private hospitals in the city by the end of May, and push the practice in 90 private medical institutions citywide," said Xu Sihu, vice chief of the municipal health bureau.

"The board will reassure the patients who seek treatment at private institutions," the official said.

On the boards hanging prominently in the lobbies of Shenzhen Humanity Hospital and Shenzhen Sunshine Hospital, people can see certificates authorizing the hospitals to offer plastic surgery and prenatal checkups, a notice about irregular advertisements run by seven private hospitals, and the numbers of complaint hotlines.

Earlier inspections showed that some private hospitals and clinics were offering services that they are not authorized to, running fake advertisements, overcharging patients, and also hiring doctors without adequate training.

Editor: Donald