Authorities in Lanzhou, capital of Gansu province, have suspended a kindergarten principal suspected of giving children prescription drugs without a doctor's authorization. It is the latest case of drugs being given to students without parents' knowledge to ward off illnesses and boost attendance.

Nie Aiqin, principal of Litian Kindergarten, in Qilihe district, is under suspicion of giving ribavirin, an anti-viral drug used to treat respiratory diseases and hepatitis C, to more than 200 children without informing their parents.

Nie allegedly started giving them the medicine in November after some parents said they suspected their children had become infected with hand-foot-and-mouth disease.