A family involved in the illegal production and sale of traditional Chinese medicines was sentenced for obstructing pharmaceutical management on Monday.

Hou Yuanxiang, originally an elementary school teacher without any background or experience in TCM, was sentenced to six years in prison and fined 10 million yuan ($1.37 million), according to the first-instance verdict announced by the Huangdao District People's Court in Qingdao, Shandong province, on Monday.

The other defendants, which included his wife, daughter and son — also lacked qualifications as TCM practitioners.

They purchased uncertified Chinese medicinal materials and bought drug residue and powders to concoct Chinese medicines, with actual ingredients and formulation sources unclear, the court said.

They indiscriminately sold these medicines to patients with cancers and cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, which resulted in delayed treatment and worsening conditions for some patients.

Their sales, amounting to over 10 million yuan, were conducted under the guise of TCM treatment, constituting the illegal production and sale of drugs, said the court.

Hou Jing, Hou Yuanxiang's daughter, was sentenced to three years and nine months in prison and fined 8 million yuan.

Hou Yuanxiang's wife and son and Hou Jing's ex-husband were each sentenced to different lengths of imprisonment, along with fines.

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