China Cracks Down on Grassroots Corruption in Healthcare, Education, and Employment

China Cracks Down on Corruption in Healthcare, Education, and Employment

China's top prosecutors are intensifying their efforts to combat corruption at the grassroots level, particularly in healthcare, education, and employment. These areas directly impact people's daily lives, and officials from the Supreme People's Procuratorate are taking action to address public concerns.

In 2024, over 3,000 individuals were prosecuted for dereliction of duty in these sectors, representing a 1.6-fold increase from the previous year. Procuratorial authorities are focusing on tackling corruption linked to people's livelihoods and rural revitalization.

To address concerns over corruption in the healthcare sector, which has made medical treatment more difficult and expensive, prosecutors have targeted offenses such as taking kickbacks and embezzling health insurance funds. Over 1,800 individuals in the healthcare industry were prosecuted for duty-related crimes.

In March 2024, a joint guideline was issued by the Supreme People's Procuratorate, the Supreme People's Court, and the Ministry of Public Security to handle health insurance fraud cases. This guideline aims to step up enforcement against such offenses, which have been on the rise.

Meanwhile, over 1,200 people from township and village organizations were prosecuted for duty-related crimes last year, marking a 48.5 percent year-on-year increase.

Procuratorial authorities nationwide handled more than 92,000 public interest litigation cases from January to November 2024. These cases covered areas such as food and drug safety, the rights of vulnerable groups, and the security of citizens' personal information.

In one case, the Qinghai Provincial People's Procuratorate filed administrative public interest litigation against over 60 express delivery companies for failing to legally contribute to work injury insurance for couriers. This action strengthens labor protections.

In another case, the procuratorial office in Tianfu New Area in Chengdu urged administrative bodies to revise village autonomy regulations in eight villages that violated women's rights.

These efforts demonstrate China's commitment to combating corruption and protecting the interests of its citizens. By focusing on areas that directly impact people's daily lives, prosecutors are working to ensure a fairer and more just society.