China renews crackdown on corruption in healthcare

At least 177 officials reportedly under investigation amid revival of Xi Jinping's decade-old anti-corruption drive

China's graft-busters have set their sights on the country's healthcare sector, in what has been described as the biggest crackdown on corruption in the history of the industry.

At least 177 hospital bosses and Chinese Communist party (CCP) secretaries have been placed under investigation this year according to local media reports - more than double the number of last year. In a press conference on Tuesday, the National Health Commission (NHC) said that the campaign would focus on people who had used their position to procure kickbacks and corruption in the pharmaceutical sector, the state tabloid the Global Times reported.