Medical Care in China for Tourists

For a medical emergency in Mainland China, call 120 for an ambulance. If you cannot explain the location in Chinese, ask hotel staff, a guide, a station employee, or a nearby person to call and give the exact address.

For non-emergency care, the main choice is between a public hospital, an international or private hospital, and a pharmacy. The right option depends on the symptoms, location, language needs, insurance, and ability to pay at the time of treatment.

Prepare before the trip

Travel insurance should cover the activities and regions in the itinerary, existing medical conditions where applicable, emergency treatment, and medical evacuation or repatriation. Save the insurer's 24-hour assistance number and policy number offline.

Ask the insurer before travel:

• which hospitals it works with in each main city;
• whether pre-authorization is required;
• whether it can arrange direct billing;
• which receipts, diagnostic records, and translations a claim needs;
• how medical evacuation is authorized.

Direct billing is not automatic. Even an insured patient may be asked for a deposit while the hospital and insurer communicate.

Carry enough regular medication, in the original packaging, with a copy of the prescription and a clinician's letter describing the generic name, dose, and reason for use. Check the medicine's legal status with the relevant Chinese authority or embassy before departure, particularly for controlled or psychotropic ingredients.

When to call 120

Call 120 for a life-threatening or time-critical emergency, including severe breathing difficulty, signs of stroke, serious chest pain, major trauma, uncontrolled bleeding, loss of consciousness, or a severe allergic reaction. This list is not exhaustive.

Give:

• the city and district;
• street, building, hotel, or attraction name in Chinese;
• a nearby entrance or landmark;
• the patient's main symptom;
• a callback number.

If you are inside a large attraction, railway station, airport, or hotel, contact onsite staff as well. They can direct the ambulance to the correct gate and may have first-aid personnel.

Do not let uncertainty about payment delay a call for urgent help. Contact the insurer as soon as it is practical.

Public hospitals

Public hospitals are widely used and generally less expensive than international private facilities. Large Level 3 Grade A hospitals offer broad specialist and emergency services, while community health centers handle more basic care.

The usual outpatient path is:

1. Registration: bring the passport. Hospitals use real-name registration.
2. Department selection: a service desk can help identify the right clinic.
3. Consultation: wait for the number or name on the display.
4. Tests: pay and complete any laboratory or imaging requests.
5. Return consultation: take the results back to the doctor.
6. Medication: pay, then collect hospital-dispensed medicine at the pharmacy.

The sequence can vary, and payment may happen at several stages. Keep every receipt.

General outpatient departments often operate primarily in Chinese. Some public hospitals have special-needs or international departments with bilingual support at a higher price. Call ahead if language support is essential; a hospital being in a major city does not mean every department has an English-speaking clinician on every shift.

International and private hospitals

International and private hospitals can be easier for language, appointment scheduling, and insurer coordination. They are usually much more expensive. Verify:

• the service is open at the time you need it;
• it has the relevant emergency or specialist capability;
• the accepted insurer and direct-billing arrangement;
• estimated consultation and deposit requirements;
• how prescriptions and medical records are provided.

An “international clinic” may not have a full emergency department. For a serious emergency, use the nearest appropriate emergency service rather than crossing a city for a preferred brand.

Payment and deposits

Healthcare is not free for visitors. Hospitals may ask for payment or a deposit before or during treatment. Many accept Alipay and Weixin Pay; cash and domestic payment routes remain important. International credit-card acceptance is not universal.

The UK government's medical-treatment guidance notes that deposits and fees may be requested in cash or through domestic payment methods and that some hospitals do not accept international cards. It also notes that direct billing depends on a specific hospital-insurer partnership.

Carry:

• more than one payment method;
• accessible emergency funds;
• the insurer's assistance details;
• a companion's contact if someone may need to coordinate payment.

For a claim, request itemized receipts, the diagnosis, test results, prescription, discharge summary, and proof of payment before leaving. Ask what can be issued in English; arrange a proper translation later if necessary.

Pharmacies

Licensed pharmacists at local pharmacies can advise on minor health needs and non-prescription products. Some medicines require a doctor's prescription, and brand names or formulations used at home may not exist in China.

Show the generic medicine name, active ingredient, strength, and formulation. Do not choose a replacement solely because packaging looks similar. Check:

• active ingredient;
• dose per tablet or measure;
• other combined ingredients;
• expiry date;
• storage instructions;
• interactions with current medicines.

For severe pain, persistent symptoms, organ dysfunction, breathing difficulty, or sudden worsening, seek a hospital assessment rather than relying on a pharmacy.

A foreign prescription may help the clinician understand treatment history, but a Chinese doctor may need to make a new diagnosis before issuing a local prescription.

Language barriers

Prepare a concise medical translation card before travel. Include:

• full name and preferred language;
• medical conditions;
• severe allergies and the reaction they cause;
• current medicines by generic name and dose;
• implanted devices or important surgical history;
• insurer and emergency contact;
• the phrase “Please call 120” in Chinese.

Useful lines:

请叫救护车，拨打120。
Please call an ambulance on 120.

我对 ______ 严重过敏。
I have a severe allergy to ______.

我每天服用这种药，剂量是 ______。
I take this medicine every day at a dose of ______.

请把诊断、处方和检查结果给我一份。
Please give me a copy of the diagnosis, prescription, and test results.

Have critical text checked by a professional or fluent speaker. Machine translation can confuse “allergy” with “side effect,” drop a negative, or mistranslate a drug name. Show the original prescription as well.

Do not include unnecessary passport or financial information on a card you may hand to a stranger.

Prescriptions and regular treatment

Bring enough medication for foreseeable delays, within the amount permitted by Chinese customs and drug rules. Keep part of an essential supply in carry-on baggage, subject to airline security rules.

If medicine is lost or runs out:

1. Contact the insurer or an appropriate medical facility.
2. Take the original container, prescription, and clinician's letter.
3. Expect the local doctor to assess the condition.
4. Confirm the active ingredient and dose of any substitute.
5. Keep the new prescription and receipt.

Do not buy controlled medicines through an informal seller or import them by courier without checking the rules.

Care outside major cities

English-language and specialist services are less predictable in smaller cities and rural areas. Before a remote, high-altitude, winter, or adventure trip, identify the nearest capable hospital and the realistic transfer time. Make sure insurance covers the planned activity and evacuation route.

Keep the destination name and road access in Chinese. A map pin without a written address may not be enough in a weak-signal area.

After treatment

Follow the discharge instructions and check whether a follow-up appointment is needed. Contact the insurer before changing cities or flights if the condition is serious. Airlines may require a fit-to-fly statement after some illnesses, injuries, or procedures.

Save medical records securely. If a prescription label is only in Chinese, make a clear dosing schedule before leaving the hospital.

Official and authoritative sources

• Shanghai government guide to public hospitals, pharmacies, payment sequence, language support, and 120: https://english.shanghai.gov.cn/en-Editor%27sPick-StudyinShanghai/20241029/466e33cd7f8c45368edb5bde92483179.html
• Shanghai government emergency medical service guidance: https://english.shanghai.gov.cn/en-Healthcare/20240517/7bb575998f9947d691b1fd0137306838.html
• UK government China health advice: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/china/health
• UK government detailed medical-treatment guidance for China: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/medical-treatment-in-china/medical-treatment-in-china
• Shanghai government public-service numbers: https://english.shanghai.gov.cn/en-FAQHome/20231219/791dd463dc62437c9605e0b3cb74e151.html

Last reviewed: 24 July 2026. This is travel preparation, not medical diagnosis or a substitute for professional care.