Authorities to wrap up probe of drug-dispensing schools

A nationwide inspection into kindergartens giving students prescription drugs without the authorization of doctors will be finished before April 10, an official said on Tuesday.

In March, at least six kindergartens in three provinces were found to have given children anti-viral drugs without informing their parents.

Mao Qun'an, spokesman of the National Health and Family Planning Commission, said in a statement that the commission and the education ministry have launched a nationwide inspection of kindergartens, primary schools and high schools to determine whether students have been given unauthorized medical treatments or unsafe foods.

The inspection will be finished by April 10 and the results will be announced to the public, he said.

Mao said there is a specific regulation regarding health conditions for kindergarten children.

"We urge the schools to strictly follow the regulations and stop their unauthorized medication behaviors," he said.