I always think westerners never cheat especially professionals in doing business. And I received good service at shops in Australia, which enhanced the image in my heart.
However, a recent event has torn it into pieces.
My husband prefers to go to western clinics due to unreasonable racism against white people at some Chinese hospitals. Therefore, once again, he chose SOS international located at Sanlitun area in Beijing to have his itchy bottom examined yesterday. As is known to all, the bottom fee to see a western doctor is 100 US Dollars if you are not a member or donĄŻt have any insurance. In my opinion, the fee is too high but IĄŻd prefer to see my husbandĄŻs smiling face. So I give my consent of this expenditure. Nevertheless, the cost of the medicine prescribed by the doctor undoubtedly shocked me. One tablet cost two US Dollars. And there were six tablets. I did not know it was western medicine produced by a Chinese pharmaceutical factory till my husband brought it home. Then I thought ¨C Gees, this medicine must cost over 30 kuai (4 US Dollars); otherwise the SOS pharmacy wouldnĄŻt have charged two times more (12 US Dollars).
I asked my mum to have the medicine prescribed at a Chinese hospital this morning in case my husband needs more. To my amazement, the pack of the medicine containing six tablets only cost two kuai (30 US cents) at a Chinese hospital!! The receipt of the SOS pharmacy fell off my hands. So did the great image collapse.
I used to think that SOS aimed at saving and helping people but now IĄŻve realised that its principle is to make as much profit as possible out of its patients! I canĄŻt figure out how they price the medicine. How can they set up the price 39 times more than its original price? Do we have to pay for the bossesĄŻ holidays as well?
Both my husband and I made calls to the SOS pharmacy for a refund right after we realised that we were robbed. A Chinese worker at the pharmacy said he would report to the manager tomorrow because he was on holiday today. So my question is: will the boss be back tomorrow?
This highway robbery (the term my husband used in his SMS to me) is not simply a matter of money; our innocence and trust has been robbed of us as well. If I were not Chinese, I would never find out the robbery because foreign people rarely go to a Chinese hospital or a Chinese pharmacy. Now obviously, the SOS has to target at foreign people in Beijing and they make huge profit out of their country mates who trust SOS so much. | 