Need Rest After Late-Night Cup Games? BJ Doctors Have the Answer

China’s medical profession is known for its blatant profiteering, and now some Beijing doctors are reaping profits from diehard football fans taking desperate measures to ensure they don’t miss upcoming games. According to a post translated by China Hush, doctors have been selling fake medical certificates for a hefty price so football fanatics across the country can skip work and keep up with their favorite teams.

Given the games are all on outside regular working hours, the certificates are presumably to allow fans to rest up after watching the 2.30am matches, which generally finish around 4.30am.

The article reports that doctors have been charging as much as RMB 280 for the forged notes, which are apparently in high demand. Documents on offer include certificates of hospitalization, hospital discharge certificates, and doctor’s notes for sick leave.

China Daily reported last week on employer fears productivity would fall during the World Cup. One Beijing-based advertising agency owner was quoted as saying, “One of my employees told me yesterday that his mother-in-law is receiving medical treatment for lung cancer and wanted a few days off. I granted him leave but later found out that he just wanted to watch the World Cup. I felt betrayed.”

As a result, a number of companies have demanded medical certificates should employees ask for a sick leave for the duration of the Cup – hence the demand for forged documents.