China health official is punished over video games, bribery

Li was reprimanded in January by Xi’an authorities for 'malpractice', though the government statement didn’t provide details at the time. — Phone game photo created by tirachardz - www.freepik.com

A health-care official has been kicked out of China’s ruling Communist Party for offenses including "long-term addiction to mobile games” following an uproar over a woman who suffered a miscarriage because she was refused care while the city of Xi’an was locked down.

Li Qiang, former head of the Xi’an Medical Emergency Centre, will face criminal prosecution for dereliction of duty, embezzlement, and accepting "huge amounts of money and property” as bribes, graft investigators said in a statement late Tuesday.