Healthcare in China
Expats will find healthcare in China to be a significant point of contention. Treatment is available in public healthcare facilities, international clinics within these public facilities or within private healthcare facilities that cater to internationals.
The standard, level of service-delivery, the ease of access and the cost varies tremendously among these sectors.
As a rule though, most expats take out private health insurance and seek treatment at the private facilities catering to internationals.
It should also be noted that care in China is hospital-centred, thus expats can stop the search for a general practitioner before they even start.
China's public healthcare system can best be described as inconsistent. As expected from a vast country covering a large number of differing terrains, the quality of clinics and care largely depends on where you are situated. Many of the commercial centres have direct access to hospitals, healthcare, medical advice and even paramedical services, whereas rural and remote villages can sometimes be hours and even days away from the nearest clinic.
Ultimately, the prevailing expat view of China’s public healthcare system is that it is sub-standard. And while this may not be the fact in some cases, the language barrier, lengthy queues and non-existent service delivery are enough to dissuade most westerners from seeking treatment in a public hospital.
That said, even though some government hospitals need a very obvious exterior facelift, the quality of treatment can occasionally be up to western standards, even if their methods are a little different from those in western countries.
Expats who do choose to use China’s government hospitals should expect to have to deal with some quirks. For example, patients are expected to keep their own medical file or medical records, doctors and hospitals will not keep these for you. Another noteworthy aspect relating to government hospitals is that while the hospital charges next to nothing for the consultation, some doctors get commission from prescriptions. So if you walk away with a list of prescriptions longer than your list of ailments then exercise caution.
As part of the state's attempts to bridge the gap between the high prices associated with private hospitals aimed at internationals and the lack of service common in public facilities, they've started to create international wings in public clinics.
These wings exist as partnerships between the private and public sector, and look to provide access to the public sector's comprehensive resources while still offering expats the western-style bedside manner and creature comforts they're used to.
Patients are likely to see the same doctors who service the public clinics, but without the long lines and lack of "customer care". The cost of treatment is also less than that found in the private facilities.
That said, these wings are in the initial, experimental stages and will only be found in China's largest commercial centres.
International hospitals are well-represented in China's larger cities, like Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, but will be absent in most smaller cities and rural communities.
These institutions are well-known for offering internationals access to English speaking medical staff with western-style training.
The reputable standards and the service-oriented, speedy treatment don't come without a cost though; fees for care are high, in some cases more than twice what the same procedure would cost in a Chinese public hospital.
As a result, it's critical expats take steps to negotiate private health insurance as part of their expat package. If this isn't a possibility, then do be sure to broker insurance on your own.
Expats can opt for international policies, like BUPA or AxaPPP, or can take out a policy with a local provider. If choosing a local provider, do be sure the provider is officially licensed to sell insurance in China - many are not. Either way, it's important to check the fine print and know exactly what is covered.
Policies and their associated premiums vary tremendously, and the best option is directly connected to personal circumstance. Generally though, premiums do tend to be high in China, even for the most basic insurance plans.
The standard, level of service-delivery, the ease of access and the cost varies tremendously among these sectors.
As a rule though, most expats take out private health insurance and seek treatment at the private facilities catering to internationals.
It should also be noted that care in China is hospital-centred, thus expats can stop the search for a general practitioner before they even start.
Public healthcare in China
China's public healthcare system can best be described as inconsistent. As expected from a vast country covering a large number of differing terrains, the quality of clinics and care largely depends on where you are situated. Many of the commercial centres have direct access to hospitals, healthcare, medical advice and even paramedical services, whereas rural and remote villages can sometimes be hours and even days away from the nearest clinic.
Ultimately, the prevailing expat view of China’s public healthcare system is that it is sub-standard. And while this may not be the fact in some cases, the language barrier, lengthy queues and non-existent service delivery are enough to dissuade most westerners from seeking treatment in a public hospital.That said, even though some government hospitals need a very obvious exterior facelift, the quality of treatment can occasionally be up to western standards, even if their methods are a little different from those in western countries.
Expats who do choose to use China’s government hospitals should expect to have to deal with some quirks. For example, patients are expected to keep their own medical file or medical records, doctors and hospitals will not keep these for you. Another noteworthy aspect relating to government hospitals is that while the hospital charges next to nothing for the consultation, some doctors get commission from prescriptions. So if you walk away with a list of prescriptions longer than your list of ailments then exercise caution.
International wings in public hospitals
As part of the state's attempts to bridge the gap between the high prices associated with private hospitals aimed at internationals and the lack of service common in public facilities, they've started to create international wings in public clinics.
These wings exist as partnerships between the private and public sector, and look to provide access to the public sector's comprehensive resources while still offering expats the western-style bedside manner and creature comforts they're used to.
Patients are likely to see the same doctors who service the public clinics, but without the long lines and lack of "customer care". The cost of treatment is also less than that found in the private facilities.
That said, these wings are in the initial, experimental stages and will only be found in China's largest commercial centres.
Private international hospitals in China
International hospitals are well-represented in China's larger cities, like Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, but will be absent in most smaller cities and rural communities.
These institutions are well-known for offering internationals access to English speaking medical staff with western-style training.
The reputable standards and the service-oriented, speedy treatment don't come without a cost though; fees for care are high, in some cases more than twice what the same procedure would cost in a Chinese public hospital.
As a result, it's critical expats take steps to negotiate private health insurance as part of their expat package. If this isn't a possibility, then do be sure to broker insurance on your own.
Expats can opt for international policies, like BUPA or AxaPPP, or can take out a policy with a local provider. If choosing a local provider, do be sure the provider is officially licensed to sell insurance in China - many are not. Either way, it's important to check the fine print and know exactly what is covered.
Policies and their associated premiums vary tremendously, and the best option is directly connected to personal circumstance. Generally though, premiums do tend to be high in China, even for the most basic insurance plans.
