Police in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region are probing the death of a man during his coercive abstention from drugs, sources from the local public security bureau said early Wednesday.

Zhang Wuqi, 43, died at a hospital in Hechi City at around 3:00 AM Tuesday, the city's public security bureau said in a press release.

"Policemen on patrol at the drug rehabilitation center in Hechi found Zhang was ill, and sent him to hospital," it said without elaborating.

It said Zhang was a native of Hechi.

The city's public security bureau has launched an investigation.

Lack of medical staff and facilities has long been a problem at Chinese drug rehabilitation centers, as well as jails and detention houses.

In January, China's ministries of public security and health ordered these institutions to improve medical care for detainees, convicts and others in custody.

The ministries said in a notice that these institutions should have in-house nurses and doctors, and practitioner pharmacists if possible. Those with insufficient in-house doctors should seek assistance from hospitals.

Detention facilities are also required to establish medical records for those in custody and hold consultations on major medical cases.

(Xinhua News Agency April 7, 2010)