Chinese city investigates reports of baby trafficking by hospital worker

Chinese authorities are investigating reports that a hospital employee in Shanxi province has been involved in selling newborns.

The city of Datong has launched a team to investigate and vowed to “seriously deal with any illegal or disciplinary issues”, state broadcaster CCTV reported on Thursday.

The case was first reported to the police by an anti-trafficking advocate who goes by the name Shangguan Zhengyi. In a social media post on Thursday, the whistle-blower said he had received a tip about a cleaner at the Datong No. 1 People’s Hospital arranging buyers for infants.

The hospital’s obstetrics department is the largest in Shanxi, with six wards and 207 beds, according to its official website. It receives 210,000 outpatient visits every year and delivers 12,700 babies – about 40 per cent of the deliveries in Datong.

Shangguan went undercover to talk to the cleaner, a woman surnamed Wang. She sent him a message on November 5, saying a friend’s relative was about to give birth to a boy and would sell the infant for a minimum of 85,000 yuan (US$11,645). She asked Shangguan whether he would like to meet the family.

A few days later, he travelled to Datong and met Wang, gaining her trust, according to the social media post. Wang said she had worked at the hospital for years and had been setting up buyers with people who did not want their children, according to Shangguan.