A donation drive for three kidney patients from Ningguo city of Anhui province was stopped by local authorities, who said there were 2,000 such patients in the city, and assistance to the three would be unfair to the rest, Liaoning-based Bandao Morning News reported.

Officials from the city civil affairs bureau said the donation will overshadow their work in social assistance, and those who are really in need can apply for subsidies of up to 20,000 yuan from the local philanthropy institute.