Those with serious sicknesses can face crippling bills as insurance policies sometimes reimburse only about 30 percent of outpatient and 50 percent of inpatient services.
Doctors in the state system are relatively lowly paid themselves, despite the years of study required to qualify.
“Putting aside ethics is necessary to make a living,” Lan said. “There’s no other way.”
To persuade patients to consent to procedures, medicine or hospitalisation, staff would ask the same question, she said: “Do you care more about your money or your life?”