Kenny同志 567 Report post Posted December 16, 2011 Is a person a "scalper" when he or she resells a ticket for an appointment with a doctor at a much higher price? By the way, do you need a ticket to see a doctor in your country? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skylee 1,912 Report post Posted December 16, 2011 Ticket scalpers / ticket touts, ticket scalping syndicate etc. We call these people 黃牛黨. But hardly anyone would trade tickets for seeing doctors (probably because it is not necessary). People usually tout tickets of sold-out concerts, football matches, etc. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rezaf 188 Report post Posted December 16, 2011 In China I have heard about it but have never seen it myself but I have seen those tickets being given to patients who have guanxi. Probably this thing is mostly limited to China because of the population and the inadequate medical system. Sometimes patients need to wait for a year or two to see some famous doctors. Just imagine someone has cancer and has tried everything else without success. I am pretty sure he will be willing to buy that ticket at any price to see the best doctor as soon as possible. Sometimes even for seeing some average 特需門診/專家門診 doctors, patients need to come to the hospital at 3~4am and line up. Of course in this kind of situation there are always some people who would rip them off. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kenny同志 567 Report post Posted December 16, 2011 I mean whether 号贩子 who operate in a hospital can be called "scalpers". Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rezaf 188 Report post Posted December 16, 2011 Don't they already call them "hospital scalpers" in the news? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
imron 5,247 Report post Posted December 16, 2011 Depends if you are reading news in English or in Chinese. I think it's acceptable to call them scalpers, although because this phenomenon isn't so common overseas (at least not in English speaking countries), people might not completely understand the context. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kenny同志 567 Report post Posted December 16, 2011 I have seen the term used in China's media a couple of times, but I haven't in western media. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
roddy 5,435 Report post Posted December 16, 2011 I can't see what else you'd call them, but it'd need a bit of explanation in a hospital context. In the UK you need to first see your GP and if the GP thinks it necessary they'll arrange an appointment with a hospital specialist, or for further tests. You wouldn't have a ticket - you'd be given an appointment (which may be some time away) but you can't give it to anyone else. You can often get faster treatment by going private though. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kenny同志 567 Report post Posted December 16, 2011 谢谢同志们! I will add some explanation. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skylee 1,912 Report post Posted December 16, 2011 OK I think this is what I don't understand. As roddy said, medical appointments are supposed to be personal and non-transferable. So are those medical tickets freely transferable, with no names on it? When you go to a hospital to register for an appointment, the hospital will just ask you to pay for the registration, but won't ask you who you are? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
roddy 5,435 Report post Posted December 16, 2011 There's probably a number of ways it could work, bearing in mind the the hospital is quite possibly in on the deal. The actual mechanics of it I don't know, but it's been in the news quite a lot lately. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kenny同志 567 Report post Posted December 16, 2011 So are those medical tickets freely transferable, with no names on it? Yes, they are. When you go to a hospital to register for an appointment, the hospital will just ask you to pay for the registration, but won't ask you who you are? Yes. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites