How to see a doctor in China as a foreigner
Short answer
Foreigners in China have three main options: a public hospital's regular outpatient clinic (cheapest, Mandarin-only, busy), a public hospital's international department (国际医疗部, shorter waits and English-speaking staff at a higher price), or a private international hospital (the most familiar experience, the highest cost). There is no family-doctor referral system — you choose the specialist department yourself and register with your passport.
Key facts
- China's top-rated hospitals are graded 三级甲等 (Grade 3A), usually large public teaching hospitals.
- There is no GP gatekeeper. Patients go straight to a hospital and choose a department (科, kē); a triage desk (分诊台) can help.
- Many large public hospitals run an international department (国际医疗部) or VIP clinic (特需门诊) with longer appointments and English support.
- A normal outpatient visit runs: register (挂号) → see the doctor → pay (缴费) → tests → return with results → pharmacy (取药).
- Foreigners register with a passport. Some online booking systems only accept Chinese ID cards, so counters or international departments may be easier.
The three kinds of care
| Regular outpatient, public hospital | International department, public hospital | Private international hospital | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chinese name | 普通门诊 | 国际医疗部 / 特需门诊 | 国际医院 / 私立医院 |
| Language | Mandarin | English usually available | English as standard |
| Waiting | Long queues, short consultations | Appointments, longer consultations | Appointments, Western-style service |
| Typical consultation fee | Low — often tens of yuan | Several hundred to over a thousand yuan | Often ¥1,000 or more |
| Insurance | Pay first, claim later | Some direct billing | Direct billing common |
| Doctors | Same senior specialists you'd see anywhere in the hospital | Often the same hospital's senior specialists | Mix of Chinese and foreign-trained doctors |
Fees vary widely by city and hospital. Check the hospital's own price list before booking.
Choosing a hospital
- For complex or specialist problems, a Grade 3A (三甲) public hospital is where China's most experienced specialists work. Well-known examples with international services include Peking Union Medical College Hospital (北京协和医院) in Beijing and Huashan Hospital (华山医院) in Shanghai.
- For routine care with less friction, private international hospitals and clinics operate in major cities, including United Family Healthcare (Beijing, Shanghai and other cities), Jiahui International Hospital (Shanghai) and The University of Hong Kong–Shenzhen Hospital.
- Check your insurance network first. If you have international health insurance, your insurer can tell you which hospitals bill them directly.
Hospital names, departments and services change. Call or check the hospital's official website before you go.
Booking and registration
Most hospitals take bookings through:
- The hospital's WeChat official account or mini-program
- A hospital app or a city-wide booking platform
- The phone line or an on-site kiosk or counter
Some online systems only accept Chinese national ID numbers. If you can't book with a passport online, go to the registration counter (挂号处) in person, or book through the international department, which handles passports routinely.
How a typical visit works
- Register (挂号) at a counter, kiosk or in the app. You'll get a queue number and room.
- Wait to be called. Screens show queue numbers outside consulting rooms.
- See the doctor. Regular outpatient consultations can be brief, so lead with your main symptom and how long you've had it.
- Pay (缴费) for any tests or medicines the doctor orders — at a counter, a kiosk, or by scanning a QR code in the hospital app.
- Do the tests at the lab (检验科) or radiology (放射科). Results often appear in the app or at a printing kiosk.
- Return to the doctor with the results, usually without registering again on the same day.
- Collect medicines at the pharmacy (药房 / 取药) after paying.
我应该挂哪个科？
Wǒ yīnggāi guà nǎge kē?
这里有国际医疗部吗？
Zhèlǐ yǒu guójì yīliáo bù ma?
Tips that save time
- Go early. Morning clinics fill quickly. Many hospitals start registration before 8:00.
- Bring a written summary of your symptoms, medicines and allergies, in English and Chinese if possible.
- Keep every receipt and report. You may need them for the next step in the visit and for insurance.
- Ask about a translator. International departments may arrange one; some private medical-assistance services also accompany patients.
Questions people ask
Can foreigners use public hospitals in China?
Yes. Public hospitals treat foreign patients, who register with their passport and pay the same listed prices as uninsured local patients. The main barriers are language and the self-directed process, not eligibility.
How do I book an appointment at a Chinese hospital?
Most hospitals take bookings through their WeChat official account or mini-program, a hospital app, a phone line or an on-site kiosk. Popular specialists are often fully booked as soon as slots open, commonly one to two weeks ahead. International departments and private hospitals usually take bookings by phone or email in English.
Which department should I register with?
Pick the department that matches the body system: 内科 (internal medicine) for general illness, 外科 (surgery) for injuries and surgical problems, 皮肤科 (dermatology), 眼科 (ophthalmology), 口腔科 (dentistry), 妇产科 (obstetrics and gynaecology), 儿科 (paediatrics). Large hospitals subdivide further, for example 消化内科 (gastroenterology). If unsure, ask the triage desk (分诊台).
What is a fever clinic?
Many hospitals route patients with a fever through a separate fever clinic (发热门诊) rather than the general outpatient area. If you have a temperature, expect to be directed there first.