Medical Care in China: A Visitor's Planning Guide

In an emergency

In mainland China, call 120 for an ambulance. The number is listed in UK government China travel advice and in Shanghai's official emergency hotline information.

Tell the dispatcher your location as precisely as you can. If communication is difficult, ask someone nearby to help explain the location and situation. Do not assume an English-speaking dispatcher is available. Do not wait for an email response from this website.

This page covers mainland China. Do not rely on its emergency-number instructions for Hong Kong, Macao or Taiwan; consult the local authority for your destination.

Prepare before travelling

The UK government's health guidance for China advises checking that your destination can provide the care you may need and that your insurance is appropriate for treatment and unexpected medical evacuation. Its advice is written for UK travellers; visitors from other countries should also consult their own government and insurer.

Prepare a short personal reference for your own use: your emergency contact, insurer's assistance number and any information your clinician considers relevant for travel. Keep medical documents securely; do not send them through RelaxInChina's general contact form.

If you use prescription medicine, check arrangements with your clinician and the relevant Chinese embassy or consulate before travelling. Medicine availability and import rules can differ. This page does not establish whether a particular medicine may be brought into China.

For a non-emergency appointment

Contact the facility directly using its official website or published phone number. An English-language website or an “international” label does not establish the availability of an English-speaking clinician for your particular appointment.

Ask these questions before you make the journey:

• Which branch and department should I contact for my request?
• Is an appointment required, and how do I make one directly?
• Can the appointment be conducted in my language? If not, what interpretation options are available and what do they cost?
• What identification and existing documents should I bring?
• What are the consultation fee, possible additional charges and payment arrangements?
• What are the current opening hours and the correct entrance or address?

These are a planning checklist, not a verified registration procedure for every hospital. Requirements vary; obtain the answer from the facility you intend to use.

Check insurance separately

Ask your insurer about the exact policy, facility and type of care. Do not assume that a facility's general statement about insurance means your own treatment is covered or can be directly billed.

Questions to confirm include:

• Is this facility eligible under my policy?
• Does this consultation or treatment require advance authorisation?
• Do I need to pay first and request reimbursement?
• What exclusions, limits or deductibles apply?
• Which receipts, medical documents and claim forms will you require?

If direct billing is proposed, ask the facility and insurer to confirm the arrangement. RelaxInChina has no claimed billing partnership with an insurer or clinic and cannot confirm coverage or reimbursement.

After an appointment

Ask the facility which records, receipts and invoices it can provide, in which language, and whether there is an additional charge. Then check those documents against your insurer's requirements. Do not assume an English report or a particular invoice format is automatic.

For questions about symptoms, medication, treatment or follow-up, contact the treating medical professional. This website cannot interpret a report or determine whether you are fit to continue travelling.

Travelling specifically for treatment

A price comparison is not enough to decide on planned dental or other medical treatment abroad. Discuss suitability and follow-up with qualified medical professionals. Ask the facility for a written treatment proposal, costs, cancellation terms, aftercare arrangements and a contact for complications.

Do not infer a treatment guarantee from a review score, a “lifetime warranty” or an advertised saving. We do not publish a verified clinic ranking or offer a medical-tourism package.

Entry permission is a separate question. Our China medical travel and visa guide is a starting point for research, not visa approval. Confirm the correct entry arrangement for your nationality and travel purpose with the relevant Chinese embassy, consulate or immigration authority before booking.

Frequently asked questions

Can you recommend the best hospital or dentist?

We have not inspected or clinically assessed facilities. We cannot rank them or guarantee a clinician, language service or treatment outcome. Use official facility information and professional advice to evaluate your own needs.

Can you book an appointment or speak to my insurer?

No. Contact the medical facility and insurer directly. RelaxInChina is a travel-information publisher, not a medical intermediary.

Is an “international hospital” automatically covered by my policy?

No coverage is established by that label. Ask your insurer about your exact policy and proposed care, and ask the facility about its current payment process.

Sources and review date

Reviewed on 5 October 2026. The emergency number and general travel preparation were checked against Shanghai's official hotline page and UK government China health advice. The remaining sections are questions to verify with your own facility, insurer and clinician, not claims that a service is available.

For a website correction, see our Help Center. Do not send medical records. For urgent help, use the local emergency service; for care decisions, consult a qualified medical professional.