Salary reductions for Chinese doctors have become increasingly widespread, with some experiencing cuts of 30 percent or even half of their previous earnings. In certain small county towns, doctors have taken on food delivery jobs to make ends meet. According to the “Medical Talent 2024 Salary and Employment Survey Report” released by Huayiwang in June, nearly 58 percent of the roughly 30,000 medical workers surveyed saw their income decline in 2024—mainly due to shrinking performance bonuses. This marks a sharp rise from 37 percent in 2023, signaling a worsening trend.
These pay cuts are not new. A neurologist at a top-tier Beijing hospital reported that the institution has been implementing “disguised salary reductions” for seven to eight years, including freezing raises even after promotions. Since the pandemic, the hospital has also introduced quarterly reductions of 3 to 5 percent, which have accumulated to over 20 percent in the past two years. Hospital leadership has cautioned staff to brace for even tougher times.
Li Ming, a senior administrator at a major hospital in Shanghai, confirmed that salary reductions are now a nationwide trend. In some grassroots hospitals, doctors earn only 2,000 to 3,000 yuan ($280–$420) a month. Hospitals in underdeveloped regions have struggled to cover even basic wages, pushing some physicians to work as ride-share drivers or delivery workers. Even in Shanghai, hospitals have seen pay cuts of 10 to 15 percent, while many doctors elsewhere report total income drops of 30 to 50 percent this year.
Medical professionals point to three main causes: the broader economic slowdown, stricter medical insurance cost controls, and the financial burden of hospital construction and expansion. Performance-based pay, which usually accounts for 70 to 80 percent of doctors’ total income, has been delayed by several months—and in some hospitals, up to half a year. Public data shows that government subsidies make up only about 10 percent of operating budgets at more than 60 percent of China’s public hospitals, forcing institutions to reduce labor expenses. Recently, China’s National Health Commission has stressed gradually increasing the proportion of fixed salaries and establishing more flexible wage adjustment mechanisms.
Source: Central News Agency (Taiwan), November 12, 2025
https://www.cna.com.tw/news/acn/202511120116.aspx