Guidance

Medical treatment in China

Updated 2 April 2025

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/medical-treatment-in-china/medical-treatment-in-china

This information is provided as a general guide based upon information provided to the British Embassy and Consulates by the relevant local authorities and may be subject to change at any time with little or no notice. The FCDO and the British Embassy/Consulates will not be liable for any inaccuracies. In addition, we make no representation as to the quality or accuracy of the information which is available at the web addresses listed in this guide, nor can we accept any responsibility for the content that is hosted on them.  British nationals wishing to obtain any further information must contact the relevant local authority.

If you require urgent medical assistance in China dial 120.

An overview of medical treatment in China

Depending on which hospital you’re taken to, medical care is generally good in major cities in China, though some hospitals can be very crowded and have long waiting times. They may appear chaotic if you are used to treatment at hospitals in the UK or other places in Europe.

Outside major cities, the standard of healthcare facilities is variable; it can sometimes be poor and disorganised. With the exception of clinics oriented towards foreign patients, GP clinics are an uncommon phenomenon.

Language assistance

English-speaking doctors and nurses may be available in large hospitals, but this will not be universal. Some hospitals can provide English-speaking staff on-hand for a fee. Wherever possible, seek medical assistance in the company of a Chinese speaker.

For information on medical practitioners in China, please see our list of hospitals on GOV.UK For information on translators and interpreters, please see our list of translators and interpreters on GOV.UK.

Medicine

If you’re on prescription medication, make sure you either bring enough with you or have access to a supply once in China. Certain medicines may not be available in China (including major brands readily available in the UK), and you may be prohibited from bringing some medicines into the country. If the medication you need is not available in public hospitals, you may consider checking with the clinics oriented towards foreign patients. For more information and advice, check with your GP and the Embassy of China before travelling.

If your medicine is available from suppliers in China, doctors may first want to conduct their own diagnosis before repeating a prescription issued elsewhere.

Nursing

Certain roles performed by nursing staff in UK hospitals are considered the responsibility of family members in Chinese medical institutions, particularly in remote areas. This may include providing food & drink and changing sheets, clothing & bedpans, among other roles. Some hospitals can provide nursing staff for a fee, but it is common that nursing staff in Chinese medical institutions are not English-speakers. International Hospitals or clinics might provide higher-standard service.

Privacy

Patients in China typically receive less privacy than would be expected in the UK. A medical consultation may take place in the same room as other patients and their family members; it may be possible to request private consultation depending on the individual institution.

VIP services

Many hospitals feature VIP wards with greater privacy and levels of care for patients willing to pay for them. Some VIP rooms are equipped similarly to apartments, with an en-suite bathroom, kitchen, dining room, etc.

Fees for VIP services may be considerably higher than normal care, and staff may assume that foreign patients require VIP treatment without first consulting them. You should make it clear if you do not wish to receive VIP treatment, and if you do want it check with your insurer whether this is covered under your policy.

Patient admission process

You may go to the hospital by yourselves. If you are unable to make the trip to the hospital, you can dial the urgent medical assistance number 120, 999 (only available in Beijing) or the number of your designated hospital for an ambulance. The ambulance will bring the patient to the nearest hospital for a fee. The fee will depend on the distance transported and the medicines used.

Hospitals may require appointments in advance for non-urgent medical assistance.

A typical admission process for a walk-in patient at a Chinese hospital could be as follows:

  1. Patient makes an appointment with the hospital in advance online, via miniprogram or over the phone.

  2. Patient arrives at reception.

  3. Staff provide a registration form to be completed, which may include an application for a hospital payment card.

  4. Having completed the forms and paid the registration fee, the patient takes a number and queues to await treatment.

  5. After the treatment, the patient pays at the cashier desk for any medicine prescribed and collects any medicine at the hospital pharmacy.

  6. If further checks are required (e.g. blood tests or X-rays) and cannot be completed on the same day, the patient will need to come back another day and repeat the above registration process, using their payment card.

  7. If the patient needs to stay in the hospital for treatment, doctors will issue a ‘Hospital Admission Notice’ which the patient needs to then register at the hospital admissions office. They also need to pay a deposit; medical expenses incurred during time at the hospital will be deducted from this deposit, which must be topped up if used during treatment. Any leftover deposit will be refunded on discharge.

  8. Upon discharge, the patient may be issued with a Chinese-language medical report on the treatment received and examination results.

For operations, the hospital may require the consent and signature from the next of kin if the operation is high risk or if the patient is unable to give the consent by himself/herself.

Treatment of contagious disease and epidemics

If you are bitten or clawed by an animal (such as dog, cat or mouse), you should immediately have your wound scrubbed and treated at the nearest medical institution and undertake rabies vaccination at the nearest designated rabies vaccination hospital/centre.

If you have been confirmed or is suspected of contracting a contagious disease at a medical institution, you should cooperate with all inspection and quarantine measures implemented by said medical institution; and you will be transferred to the relevant contagious disease hospital for treatment according to relevant regulations.

Payment and insurance

Healthcare is not provided free of charge in China and medical bills can be high. Medical evacuation from China is extremely expensive. Make sure that you have comprehensive insurance, covering healthcare and medical evacuation/repatriation to the UK or your normal country of residence, for the duration of your stay. Please view our guidance on foreign travel insurance, which outlines what your insurance policy should cover you for.

Many hospitals do not accept international bank or credit cards. Deposits and medical treatment fees may be required via either a domestic bank account or cash payment. AliPay and WeChat Pay (Chinese mobile payment) are accepted in many hospitals.

Certain hospitals based in large cities have partnerships with foreign insurance companies and can provide medical services without a deposit. Please check with the hospital or your insurance provider for information on relevant partnerships.

Deposits

It is a common practice for hospitals to require patients to make a deposit before providing treatment. Initial deposits are typically between 3,000-7,000RMB, though the exact figure will depend on the particular circumstances of the patient and the medical treatment required.

Where a patient has medical insurance, hospitals often still require a deposit from the patient before funds from the insurance provider have been processed. Treatment may be denied before this is done.

How the FCDO can help you if you are in hospital

We aim to contact you as soon as possible after being told that you have been admitted to hospital to assess how we can help you. We will then aim to help you according to your individual needs. This may include visiting you if you are particularly vulnerable and you want us to.

When we assess your vulnerability, we will take account of factors such as your condition, your ability to speak on the phone, whether you have relatives or friends with you, whether you have a tour company representative and the standard of medical facilities. We will then decide whether a visit is appropriate or not. If we believe it is, and we are able to get to you, we will aim to visit as soon as possible.

If you want, we can contact your family or friends in the UK to tell them that you are in hospital.

If you want, we can help you to consult your insurance company or medical evacuation company. Remember to keep any receipts or doctors’ notes in case you need them to make a claim. We may also be able to help you communicate with hospital staff in certain situations if they do not speak English.

We do not usually contact or visit people who have travelled specifically for medical treatment.

We cannot pay medical bills.

Medical repatriation or evacuation

If you are ill abroad, you may need to return home:

  • while still receiving care (medical repatriation)
  • because specialist care isn’t available locally (medical evacuation or medevac)

Your insurance company should arrange your medical repatriation or evacuation. If your insurance does not cover this, you’ll have to arrange and pay for it yourself. You can check the list of medical repatriation companies to get the support you need.

The British embassy or consulates cannot arrange medical repatriation or pay for it.

If you are returning to the UK on a scheduled flight, you may need to provide the airline with advance confirmation from your treating doctors that you are fit to fly.

If you need general advice when travelling abroad or want to know how the Embassy can help you if you have difficulties, please see Support for British nationals abroad. We also publish and regularly update foreign travel advice with key information for 225 countries and territories around the world.

The British Embassy/Consulate-Generals provide guides on the following subjects:

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