A health authority in Jiangxi province has rejected allegations that a local hospital overcharged a patient, after a complaint about extra fees sparked widespread discussion online.

On July 25, a complaint posted on Ask Jiangxi, an official channel where citizens can directly submit complaints and inquiries to government departments for resolution, claimed that a doctor at Fengcheng People's Hospital demanded an extra 5,000 yuan ($696) for an "expert fee" and another 5,000 for the expert's surgery, on top of standard surgical costs.

After the procedure, the doctor allegedly pressured the patient to pay for a meal, said the complaint.

In a statement issued on July 30, the Fengcheng Health Commission dismissed it, saying that the fee was for an external expert demanded by the patient and asserted that it did not violate any regulations.

"The patient requested an external expert for the surgery upon admission and signed a consent form agreeing to cover the cost. The surgery took place on July 24, and the family paid the expert directly. Hospital staff were not involved," the statement read.

After the operation, the family offered to treat the expert to a meal. A hospital doctor initially covered the cost of about 150 yuan, but there was no coercion involved.

The expense for the meal has been refunded, according to the statement.

Inviting external experts is a patient-friendly practice commonly found in grassroots hospitals, aimed at reducing the burden and difficulty of seeking medical care in other cities and regions, it added.