Core Insights - The article highlights the financial struggles faced by healthcare professionals, particularly pediatricians, in a public hospital in Guangxi, China, due to salary cuts and declining patient numbers [2][3][21] - The decline in income is attributed to a significant drop in the number of pediatric patients and changes in medical insurance reimbursement policies [3][17][19] Group 1: Salary and Financial Struggles - The monthly income of pediatricians like Jiang Yun has decreased from around 7,000 yuan in 2024 to 3,000-4,000 yuan in 2025, which is lower than their income a decade ago [2][11] - More than half of the doctors in Jiang Yun's department are now working part-time jobs, such as food delivery, to make ends meet [3][4] - The hospital's financial situation is dire, with a debt of nearly 100 million yuan and annual revenue of only 70-80 million yuan, leading to salary reductions across various departments [22][23] Group 2: Patient Volume and Insurance Changes - The number of pediatric patients has decreased by approximately 20% year-on-year as of May 2025, despite the local birth rate being higher than the national average [3][16] - The implementation of a new DRG (Diagnosis-Related Group) payment system has reduced the reimbursement rates for common pediatric diseases, further straining hospital finances [17][18] - For instance, the reimbursement for pneumonia treatment dropped from about 3,000 yuan to less than 2,000 yuan under the new system [18] Group 3: Operational Challenges - The hospital is cutting costs on medical equipment, with many devices in the pediatric department being outdated and still in use [3][26] - Doctors are feeling pressured to generate income through patient care, leading to a shift in treatment practices to focus on higher-margin services like traditional Chinese medicine [25][27] - The financial strain has resulted in a lack of essential medical supplies and equipment, affecting the quality of care provided [26][27] Group 4: Broader Implications - The article indicates a trend across the healthcare industry where over 57% of surveyed medical personnel reported a decrease in salary in 2024 [13] - The situation reflects a larger systemic issue within the healthcare sector, where financial pressures are forcing medical professionals to reconsider their career paths [29][30]