Medical & Health

What your policy should cover

• Emergency medical treatmentHospitalisation, surgery, and medication costs.
• Medical evacuationAirlifting to a better-equipped hospital or back home. This alone can cost $50,000–$100,000 uninsured — the most important thing to check.
• Trip cancellationCovers costs if you need to cut your trip short due to illness or injury.
• Pre-existing conditionsCheck whether yours are covered. Many basic policies exclude them entirely.
• 24-hour emergency assistance lineA phone number you can call from China at any hour to get help in English — essential in a crisis.

International clinic chains in China

• United Family Healthcare (和睦家)The largest international network, with hospitals and clinics in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu and more.
• Parkway HealthStrong presence in Shanghai; multiple clinics across the city.
• International SOSClinics in major cities; particularly strong on medical evacuation support.
• Raffles MedicalGood coverage in tier-one cities; English-speaking staff throughout.

1. 1
   Register and pay the registration fee (挂号 guà hào) Go to the registration desk and tell them your symptoms. You'll be directed to the appropriate department — internal medicine (内科), surgery (外科), emergency (急诊), etc. You must pay a small registration fee here (usually ¥10–¥50) and show your passport — both are required before you can see a doctor. Do not skip this step and go straight to waiting, or you won't be in the system.
   
   In major cities: many large hospitals now offer mobile pre-registration via their WeChat mini-program or official app. If you have WeChat set up, search the hospital name to see if this is available — it can significantly cut your wait time.
2. 2
   Wait to see the doctor Chinese hospitals can be extremely busy. Wait times in the outpatient department of a major public hospital can be 1–3 hours. Emergency departments (急诊) are faster for genuine emergencies. Bring water and be patient.
3. 3
   See the doctor Consultations are typically short — 5 to 10 minutes. The doctor will examine you, may order tests (blood work, X-rays), and write a prescription or referral. If you don't speak Chinese, show your symptoms written down. Translation apps work reasonably well for basic medical communication.
4. 4
   Pay for tests and treatment (收费处 shōu fèi chù) Unlike Western systems where billing happens afterward, in Chinese hospitals you pay before each step. After the doctor orders tests, go to the payment window, pay, then take the receipt back to get the tests done. Keep all receipts for insurance claims.
5. 5
   Collect your medicine (取药 qǔ yào) Prescriptions are filled on-site at the hospital pharmacy. Take your prescription slip to the pharmacy counter (药房), pay, and collect your medication. The pharmacist will explain dosage — have a translation app ready if needed.

Useful phrases at the hospital

Calling an ambulance (120)

1. 1
   Call 120 This works from any phone including foreign SIM cards, and is free. The operator may not speak English — speak slowly and clearly, or hand the phone to a local bystander if possible.
2. 2
   State your location clearly Give the full address including the city, district, street, and building number. If you don't know the address, describe a nearby landmark or read out the Chinese characters on the nearest building or street sign. Having your hotel's Chinese address saved on your phone is invaluable here.
3. 3
   Describe the emergency State what happened and the number of people affected. Stay on the line. If there's no English operator available, use a translation app to communicate or ask a bystander to speak on your behalf.
4. 4
   Also call your insurer's emergency line Do this as soon as the immediate emergency is under control. Your insurer can advise on the best hospital, arrange direct payment, and begin coordinating evacuation if needed.

Getting yourself to the emergency room

• DiDiFastest option. Show the driver your phone with the hospital name in Chinese.
• TaxiShow a written note with the hospital name in Chinese. Say "急诊" (jí zhěn) to make the urgency clear.
• MetroOnly practical for non-critical situations — some major hospitals are on metro lines in larger cities.

Emergency phrases

Bring these from home

• All prescription medicationBring more than you need, keep in original packaging, and carry a doctor's letter if the medication is controlled.
• Your usual painkillerIbuprofen and paracetamol are available in China but under different brand names — bring your preferred brand to avoid confusion.
• AntihistaminesUseful for allergic reactions; brands differ significantly from Western equivalents.
• Diarrhoea medicationTraveller's stomach is common — bring loperamide (Imodium) as a precaution.
• Rehydration sachetsORS sachets are very useful if you get sick and can't keep fluids down.
• AntacidsChinese food is rich and oily — useful for sensitive stomachs.
• Insect repellentEspecially important if visiting rural or southern areas — DEET-based products can be hard to find in China.
• SunscreenAvailable widely in China, though formulations differ from Western brands — bring your preferred product if you have a specific routine.
• Sleep medicationTime zone adjustment can be significant — worth having if you're sensitive to jet lag.

Chinese pharmacies (药店)