More than 70 percent of patients approve of the outpatient services provided by the country's medical institutions, according to a survey by the China Consumer Association (CCA).

The findings of the survey were released on Friday. The survey, from last September to November, covered 761 patients at outpatient clinics of 178 state and private hospitals in 11 provinces and cities.

Most of the patients said general medical services had been upgraded, and the attitude of doctors toward patients had improved.

Statistics from the CCA show the nation's medical service sector has been receiving complaints and criticism since 2004.

The survey found high medical costs the major complaint of the respondents.

"The cost for medicine seems to have run wild," said a patient surnamed Guo, who was suffering from a common cold.

"I received injections for four days and pills, which cost me 700 yuan ($91)."

Besides costs, the survey also found a lax procedure for dispensing prescriptions. Fifty-six percent of doctors involved in the survey were willing to prescribe drugs without seeing the patient.

It is against a doctor's professional ethics, said medical law experts.

(China Daily March 3, 2007)