What if a foreigner gets sick in China?

Foreigners do not need to be overly anxious when they get sick in China. The Chinese medical system is open to foreign patients and has clear procedures for different scenarios (emergency, outpatient, hospitalization, etc.). Below are three major scenarios of emergencies, routine medical treatment, and long-term treatment, with detailed guidelines on procedures, language, costs, and other key issues:

Emergencies (e.g. sudden illness, accidental injury): Prioritize medical treatment and make up the procedures afterwards

China adheres to the principle of “life is paramount”, and medical institutions are required to prioritize treatment regardless of whether the foreigner has a legal visa or not. The specific procedures are as follows:

1. Immediately call the emergency number

The national unified emergency telephone number: 120 (medical emergency), 110 (alarm, applicable to accidents).

If you don't speak the language, ask the operator to transfer you to a “foreign service” or contact an interpreter on the spot (in some cities, 120 is equipped with multi-language dispatching).

2. Procedures after transportation to the hospital

Identity registration: the hospital will verify the patient's passport, visa and other information (if you can't provide it, you can register your contact information first and add it later).

Settlement of expenses: Emergency medical expenses are to be borne by the patient (some private hospitals/international departments support international credit card payments), public tertiary hospitals charge according to Chinese standards.

Visa Extension: If you need to extend your stay due to medical treatment, you need to apply for visa extension to the Exit-Entry Administration of the place where the hospital is located before you leave the hospital (you need to provide the Diagnostic Certificate issued by the hospital).

Tips: If you have a sudden illness during your trip, you can contact the Chinese Embassy or Consulate in your country (phone numbers can be found through the MFA's “Consular Express” app) for assistance in contacting your family or an interpreter.

Routine medical treatment (outpatient clinic, specialized examination, etc.): Prepare in advance for efficient medical treatment

In case of non-emergency, it is recommended to plan in advance so as to avoid the impact of incomplete procedures on medical treatment.

1. List of required materials

Proof of identity: original and photocopy of valid passport (visa page must be included).

Visa/residence permit: valid within the period of validity (short-term medical treatment is recommended to use tourist visa L visa or business visa M visa, long-term need Q / S visa);; and

Medical records: past examination reports, diagnostic certificates, medication records, etc. (it is recommended to translate into Chinese, some hospitals provide translation services).

Insurance certificates: If you have purchased international medical insurance (e.g. BUPA, MSH) that covers your treatment in China, you need to bring the policy and direct debit card with you.

2. Registration and consultation process

Selecting a hospital: Recommend the international department of a public tertiary hospital (e.g., Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Shanghai Ruijin Hospital International Medical Center) or a foreign-related private hospital (e.g., United Family Hospital and Clinics (UFH), which are usually equipped with multi-language services and have a more convenient process.

How to make an appointment: Appointments can be made through the hospital's official app, WeChat, or by phone (some specialists need to be booked 1-2 weeks in advance).

On the day of consultation: register at the “International Patient Service Counter” with your passport when you arrive at the hospital and be guided to the consultation room by the staff.

Language support: The International Department is generally equipped with English, Japanese and Korean interpreters (some hospitals provide 24-hour interpreter hotlines), and professional medical interpreters can be applied for complicated cases (at additional cost).

3.Payment

Public hospitals' international department/special needs clinic fees are higher (about 3-5 times higher than general outpatient clinics), but support cash, credit cards, Alipay/WeChat (some hospitals).

Private hospitals have transparent fees and some of them pay directly with international insurance (you need to check the coverage of the policy in advance).

Long-term treatment (hospitalization, rehabilitation of chronic illnesses, etc.): Visa and residence permit are crucial

If you need to be hospitalized for more than 180 days or undergo long-term rehabilitation, you need to apply for a long-term visa and residence permit, and the process is as follows:

1. Visa application type

S1 Visa (Long-term treatment): for foreigners who need to be hospitalized in China for more than 180 days (a Certificate of Need for Long-term Treatment issued by the hospital is required); and

Q1 Visa (Relative Reunion Category): If you need to accompany and take care of your family members for treatment in China, you can apply for a Q1 Visa (the period of stay is generally not more than 180 days, and can be subsequently converted into a Residence Permit).

2. Application for Residence Permit

With the Certificate of Diagnosis, Notification of Hospitalization and S1/Q1 visa issued by the hospital, apply for a foreigner's Residence Permit (the validity period is usually in line with the treatment cycle and can be extended) to the Exit-Entry Administration of the place of residence.

Accompanying family members (e.g. spouse, parents) can apply for Q2 visa (family visit category) or S2 visa (accompanying category), and the period of stay will not exceed the duration of the patient's treatment.

3. Hospitalization and Accompanying

During the period of hospitalization, you must comply with the hospital's regulations (e.g. visiting hours, number of accompanying family members).

If more than one family member is required to accompany the patient, the patient must apply for additional visas for the accompanying persons (each person applies for a separate visa).

Special treatment (e.g. licensed medicines, Chinese medicine, etc.): policy support and regional selection

Some areas in China (e.g., tumors, rare diseases) can enjoy special policies and simplified processes through the Boao Lesheng International Medical Tourism Advance Zone in Hainan:

1. Licensed medicine and equipment use

Lecheng is the only “special medical zone” in China that allows the simultaneous use of drugs/devices that have been approved by the US FDA and EU EMA but are not yet marketed in China (e.g., new anticancer drugs, drugs for rare diseases); patients do not need to wait for approval in China.

Patients do not need to wait for China's approval, but can apply for use with a foreign prescription or doctor's recommendation letter (subject to the approval of the Lotus City Administration).

2.Visa facilitation