China’s public hospital doctors to lose their iron rice bowls
New hiring practice based on contracts instead of quotas will benefit private sector, analysts say
For decades, working as a public hospital doctor was considered an “iron rice bowl” job – a career with a government salary guaranteed until retirement.
Though not lucrative, the positions came with a good pension, social welfare benefits such as housing and a promising promotion track.
Now the bowl is about to be broken. The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security has announced it is studying hiring practices in semi-government institutions such as public hospitals and universities.
On the mainland, the government decides how many people it needs to employ in senior positions at such facilities and hires are made according to the quota, regardless of actual staffing needs. Funding for specific hospitals is also decided by the quota.
The approach creates inefficiencies and the ministry aims to shift all such iron rice bowl jobs, including those of public hospital doctors, to contract positions.
Private hospitals must catch up with public ones in other benefits, but it is a step in the right direction
Analysts said the move was a step in the right direction and should help private hospitals attract talent.