Chapter 388 – Why can’t the hospital make money?
During dinner, Li Shiqiang excitedly told his wife about what he was about to do. He does not need to worry about the issue of setting up the hospital. He only needs to purchase the most advanced medical equipment which was not available in China. He also needs to hire some specialists and professors for the hospital.
Feng Yu told Li Shiqiang that Fu Guangzheng could help to purchase the medical equipment. The Fu family does not only have sales distribution channels. They also have avenues to get all sort of goods. Although the Fu family does not do medical equipment business, they could still contact the medical equipment companies in the US and Europe.
It was a pity that the Soviet Union does not have any medical equipment companies and Feng Yu could not take advantage of it. Now, the former Soviet Union countries, like Russia, were investing in their basic infrastructures like education, culture, and health. These countries no longer have cheap 2nd hand equipment for sales.
Feng Yu discussed with Li Shiqiang and decided that they would buy the most advanced brain-related medical equipment. No matter who was it, as long as the illness concerns brains, they would be willing to spend a lot of money. This was especially so for those government officials and the wealthy people.
Next, they will be getting the ultrasound machines. The hospital will be busy just by telling the parents about the sex of the unborn babies. Of course, in another 2 years, this would be banned. But every policy will have loopholes. At that time, when doing the checks for pregnant women, the doctor can tell the women: “Look, this is your baby’s head, this is the hand, and this is the penis.” The mother would know that the baby in her womb is a boy. If the doctor did not mention about the penis, that means the baby is a girl.
In conclusion, they just need to buy costly and rare equipment for the hospital. They would not need other ordinary equipment as other government hospitals were also equipped with that equipment. They cannot use this equipment as a selling point for their hospital.
Also, there was the issue of selling medication. This was not those common medications. Bing City also have a huge pharmaceutical factory. The profits for the common medications were too low.
Feng Yu wanted to sell those health supplements medications or health products. There were lots of profits in this industry. Those that were willing to buy these products or medicines were all wealthy people. Even if these products were slightly effective, these people were willing to buy.
Of course, these were all that they planned. The most important thing was that the City Government gave them approval to convert the Machinery Company’s hospital into a private shareholding hospital.
Private hospitals had already appeared since the reforms started. But that private hospital was mostly located along the coastal regions. At first, there were private clinics. Then a few people decided to pool their money together to set up a private specialist hospital. After that, private general hospitals appeared.
Just like the problems Li Shiqiang was facing, it was easy for doctors from the government hospitals to set up private clinics.
But if they were to set up a specialist hospital with more than 10 beds, they would face strict restrictions. It was because government hospitals were not making money. In fact, these government hospitals still needed financial assistance from the government. If there were more private hospitals, then those government hospitals will face more losses and needed more financial aid from the government!
Because of this reason, the Health Ministry made it hard for private hospitals to get approvals. This was also to protect the interest of the government hospitals.
Some policies allow private hospitals. That means the Machinery Company’s hospital can be converted into a shareholding private hospital.
But when Feng Yu arrived at the City Government to look for Zhang Ruiqiang’s help in getting the approvals, he was rejected!
“That is the Machinery Company employees’ hospital, how can you privatize it? Also, how can a hospital be converted into a shareholding and its purpose was to generate profits? Do you still have a conscience?!” Zhang Ruiqiang reprimanded.
“Why should I have a conscience? The doctors are using their expertise, and the hospital needs medications and must provide facilities like operating theatres, wards, etc. to treat patients. Why they should not get paid for the efforts they put in? Since the olden days, which clinic does not make money? Are you telling me that those doctors do not need to earn money for their families?” Feng Yu retorted.
“You are unreasonable! To prevent those private hospitals who was out to earn money, the government set up government hospitals. The government even provide financial assistance to these hospitals. This was to make sure everyone can afford to see doctors. Now you are telling me that you want to make use of this to make money? Are you really that poor?”
Zhang Ruiqiang looked at Feng Yu in despise. Others might not know, but Zhang Ruiqiang was clear. The Machinery Company was worth more than 1 billion RMB. He was not sure if Feng Yu was the wealthiest man in China, but he was sure that Feng Yu was the wealthiest person in Bing City and Longjiang Province!
Other than the Machinery Company, Feng Yu still have the humidifiers and bladeless fan businesses. His family still owns pig farms and food processing factories. Which one of these businesses were not making high profits? Yet Feng Yu was thinking of making use of a hospital to earn money? This was too evil!
Feng Yu was speechless. Why should I stop making money when I am not short of money? Furthermore, those government hospitals had terrible services. The quality of the doctors was not good. When the citizens fall sick, they also chose the hospitals for treatments. Even the government officials also decide to go to the best hospital in Bing City when they fall ill.
“The hospital I am setting up will charge the patients according to the regulations. It will also adhere to the Health Ministry’s regulations. What’s wrong with that? Furthermore, I will also be responsible for the Machinery Company’s employees and their families. Those employees and their families, including those retired workers, will still enjoy subsidies when they visit the hospital. We will open the hospital to the public and earn some money from them. The money earned will help to subsidize the employees and their families, and also make some profits for the hospitals. It will not be like those government hospitals where the doctors asked the patients’ families for red packets before operations!”
In this era, doctors will give hints to the patients’ family members for red packets. Last month, Bing City news also reported a series of incidents about this. Even though that doctor was fired from the hospital, but the government hospitals’ reputation among the citizens had fallen to the lowest point. Even the government was affected.
Some people had said that red packets were a must if you are asking the government for assistance. One must also treat government officials for meals. This was the so-called “give and take”!
“I just don’t get it. You said that you wanted a good reputation and had donated so much money to the schools. Why can’t you do the same for this hospital?” Zhang Ruiqiang asked.
Feng Yu looked up to the ceiling: “How can this be the same? I had donated so much to the schools in Bing City was to repay to my hometown. This was also for my parents. They can hold their heads up high proudly when they go out. Our country also emphasized a lot on education. I am also following the nation’s calls. But our country did not say that private hospitals must benefit the citizens and give welfare to them.
Furthermore, I had donated to the universities was for the future recruitment of my companies. When my companies need to do hiring, all I need to do is to mention that my companies had donated the school buildings in their universities. With the same offers, these people will choose to join my companies even when our competitors are the government agencies!”
Zhang Ruiqiang was at a loss of words. He had never thought that Feng Yu had donated to the school for this motive! All this while, he had full of respect for Feng Yu. But now, he realized that Feng Yu was a real businessman. Every cent that comes out of his pocket had a motive!