The feverish zeal with which ordinary citizens embraced dubious, and clearly unscientific, health props proves that they are disillusioned with the prevalent medical system.

It shows that the healthcare system has failed to deliver, leading many to seek inexpensive alternatives to formal treatment.

This is not to say State-run hospitals or community clinics are professionally mismanaged or incompetent. These medical institutions still employ the cream of healthcare professionals and have the most up-to-date equipment at their disposal.

Yet, the lacuna is that the current system fails to provide affordable services. Despite repeated pledges to reform and lower the price of medicines, little headway has been made.

As has been exposed in recent instances, officials, hospital managers, doctors and pharmaceutical companies have colluded to make otherwise inexpensive medicines unaffordable.

Sure, the government has charted a sophisticated healthcare reform roadmap. Yet, the central question remains unanswered - will the revamp result in reasonably priced medication for the average citizen?

At least, on this point, the answer seems to be an unequivocal no.

Since illnesses can financially crush even well off households, it is not surprising to see "masters" who claim to better health without costly prescription, getting popular by the day.

Running after these kinds of charlatans too is not without pitfalls. The lesson to be learnt from the case of the disgraced "master" Zhang Wuben is that one has to be extremely vigilant.