Some private hospitals in Guangdong province are providing medicines that stimulate ovulation to women who are trying to bypass China’s one-child family planning policy by having multiple births.
Some Internet stores are avoiding supervision and selling these medicines, dubbed "multiple baby pills". That’s even though such pills require a doctor’s prescription.
The Guangzhou Daily reported that most of the private hospitals interviewed said they prescribe such medicines only in treating infertility. But some also said they do so to give their clients a higher chance of having multiple births, the newspaper reported.
One hospital spokesperson said, “We have helped 60,000 couples get pregnant in the past 15 years and twins are common. Regular hospitals don't do it.”
The medicine costs a few hundred yuan and the hospital monitors the pregnancy and guides the client during the process, the person said.
At Guangzhou Women's Hospital, which treats women for multiple births, China Daily reports that a TV commercial for the hospital's infertility treatment even says: "You may get twins."
(中國日報網英語點津 編輯:Julie)
About the broadcaster:
Renee Haines is an editor and broadcaster at China Daily. Renee has more than 15 years of experience as a newspaper editor, radio station anchor and news director, news-wire service reporter and bureau chief, magazine writer, book editor and website consultant. She came to China from the United States.