Those involved in allegedly selling newborn babies to human traffickers are "morally degraded" individuals and "intolerable," China's top health commission spokesman said on Tuesday.

The National Health and Family Planning Commission called for severe punishments, and said it would impose stricter medical service management and strengthen medical ethics education nationwide, according to spokesman Mao Qun'an.

Several newborn babies were allegedly sold to human traffickers by an obstetrician, surnamed Zhang, in Fuping county of Northwest China's Shaanxi Province, according to local police. This came to light after a July 20 police report.

Zhang and five others have since been detained.

The case is a serious violation of laws and has impacted society, according to Shaanxi authorities.

It has exposed "loopholes" and "a lack of legal awareness," the local authorities said in a statement. The authorities added that the case damaged the professional image of medical staff.

Medical facilities nationwide are undergoing an overhaul in order to enhance legal awareness, ensure medical safety and effectively safeguard people's health rights, according to the health commission.