Advertisement

Struggling China couple, already have 2 girls, welcome quadruplets, criticised for donation plea

Story of poorly paid couple who cannot pay US$28,000 medical bill or support 6 children attracts 10 million views online

Reading Time:2 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
4
A destitute Chinese couple, already caring for two daughters, faced backlash online after appealing for donations following the birth of their quadruplets. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock/Douyin
Alice Yanin Shanghai

A couple in southern China who recently welcomed the birth of quadruplets, adding to their two daughters, received harsh criticism when they appealed for financial help.

Advertisement

The wife, surnamed Li, gave birth to four baby girls on August 23 at Shenzhen Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital in Guangdong province, the local television station reported.

She and her husband, surnamed Chen, already have two daughters. The quadruplets were sent to intensive care because they were born a month early.

Doctors said they would need to stay there for at least a month, which would cost about 200,000 yuan (US$28,000).

According to the father, the couple must pay immediately, then after the babies are discharged from the hospital he can apply for a reimbursement from the social security authority in his hometown.

Not everyone was sympathetic, with many questioning why the financially struggling couple chose to have quadruplets when they already had two daughters. Photo: Douyin
Not everyone was sympathetic, with many questioning why the financially struggling couple chose to have quadruplets when they already had two daughters. Photo: Douyin

It is expected that the authority will cover 80 per cent of the medical bill.

Advertisement