Abstract
The paper evaluates submerged discontent among Chinese doctors regarding their pay and patterns of resolution, in particular doctors responses through formal and informal actions in the context of health service marketisation. Based on a case study of two public hospitals in China, the paper reveals that marketisation has intensified Chinese doctors dissatisfaction over pay. Because of authoritarian management and compliant trade unions, the conflict between doctors and their employers cannot be accommodated through collective channels. Instead doctors discontent can only be expressed through individual, subtle and informal activities. Meanwhile doctors professional society is expanding its influence, showing a desire to develop health professionals group identity and protect members interests more effectively in the future.