Seeing a doctor in China: registration, emergencies and insurance

When you feel ill, the stressful part is often not the treatment but not knowing where to go, how to register and how to claim costs back.

1. Where to go

• Emergency or injury: call 120, or go straight to a hospital emergency department.
• Outpatient care: register for the relevant department at a general hospital. Some large-city hospitals have international or foreign-affairs clinics, but confirm English-language service by phone or on their website — never assume.
• For non-urgent health information, refer to the National Health Commission and local health commission websites, and the 12320 public-health hotline.

2. What to bring

• Your passport (many hospitals use it to create a record), a contact number, and a working payment method.
• Past records, test results and a list of medicines using generic / English names, not only brand names.
• Allergies and chronic conditions written on one page in Chinese or English, ready to show.

3. Costs and insurance

• Payment is commonly required before tests or medication. Keep invoices, prescriptions, medical records and test reports for insurance claims.
• Before travelling, check whether your travel or international health insurance covers mainland China, whether direct billing is available, and what documents a claim needs.
• Whether Chinese public health insurance applies to you depends on your enrolment and residence status — confirm with the local medical-insurance authority.

4. Long-term medication

Bring enough for your stay in original packaging with the prescription or a doctor's letter, and check current customs rules on restricted medicines before departure.

This is general process information, not medical advice. Services, fees and insurance eligibility follow the latest hospital and authority rules.