Travel Notes
China Knowledge

Medical Care in China: Hospitals, Pharmacies & Insurance

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Hospital Tiers

Chinese public hospitals are rated in three tiers; 3A is the highest. Foreign visitors should prioritize: International hospitals (United Family, Parkway, etc. — English service, highest cost) or 3A hospital international departments (Peking Union, Shanghai Huashan — some English service, moderate cost). Regular public hospitals are cheapest but present significant language barriers.

Seeing a Doctor

  1. Register (on-site or via WeChat mini-program); regular ¥50–100, specialist ¥100–500
  2. Wait your turn (international departments have shorter waits)
  3. Consultation (doctor examines you)
  4. Pay for tests (blood work, CT, etc. are billed separately)
  5. Collect results → follow-up → prescription → pharmacy pickup

Pharmacies

Chain pharmacies like Dashenlin, Yifeng, and Laobaixing are everywhere. Common medications don’t require a prescription — cold medicine, painkillers, and stomach medicine are available over the counter. Antibiotics and some psychiatric medications need prescriptions. Instructions are in Chinese — use Baidu Translate’s photo feature.

Emergencies

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