China's first ever "five-star" hospital set to open its wards
17/12/2006 11:44
Half of the rooms in China's first ever "five-star" hospital in Shanghai
that provides postnatal care to new mothers and babies have been booked up ahead
of its inauguration on Christmas Day.
Xiyue Postnatal Hospital, meaning
happiness in Chinese, is more like a holiday resort with its well-furnished
rooms for mothers and children and a swimming pool, golf course, tennis courts
and karaoke bars for visitors.
Traditionally, new mothers have to spend a
month in confinement after giving birth in keeping with an ancient belief that
the mother and child are particularly vulnerable to evil spirits during this
period.
But luxury comes at a price. A hefty one at that. The cheapest room
is 40,000 yuan (US$5,000) a month while the luxury suite charges nearly 10,000
yuan (US$1,250) a day. Hospital sources insist, "The price is
reasonable."
Even the luxury suite is worth the money, they say, given the
comfortable environment, luxury furniture and quality services. The two-storey
suite has separate bedrooms for the new mother, baby and babysitter as well as a
kitchen and a karaoke bar, where the newborn can wail away the hours. Despite
this glowing reference, the luxury suite remains available for now.
The
hospital predicts business will be good next year as the Chinese Year of the Pig
is believed to be auspicious for having a baby.
The growing demand for
postnatal services in Chinese cities has created more jobs for professional
babysitters and wet nurses and postnatal hospitals have mushroomed in recent
years.
In Shanghai and Beijing, a well-trained babysitter can make as much as
4,000 yuan a month (US$500) and a postnatal hospital charges 10,000 yuan
(US$1,250) a month on average.
Xinhua News
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