Hospitals
Hospitals in China for international patients
This is the index of hospital profiles on China Patient Guide. A profile tells you what a hospital publishes about its international service, what we could not confirm, and how to book. It never tells you which hospital is best.
Profiles
We add hospitals one at a time. Each one is researched from the hospital's own website, government pages and reliable reporting, then sent to the hospital for written confirmation. Until the hospital confirms, a profile stays unpublished on the public site. Our verification method explains the steps in detail.
Three kinds of hospital you will come across
Most international patients end up in one of three settings. Knowing which one you are dealing with explains most of the differences in price, language support and paperwork.
| Setting | What it is | Typical trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| International department of a public hospital | A separate service line inside a large public hospital, with its own appointment desk and often staff who speak English. | Access to the hospital's specialists with more language help, at a higher price than the same hospital's standard outpatient clinic. Caixin reported international departments can cost three to five times more. |
| Standard outpatient clinic of a public hospital | The same hospital's regular service for local patients. | Lower prices, but queues, Chinese-language systems and little help with paperwork. Most visitors need someone who speaks Chinese. |
| Private or foreign-owned hospital | Hospitals set up by private investors. Since late 2024, fully foreign-owned hospitals are allowed in nine trial areas, including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Hainan. | Often built around international patients and insurance billing; prices and specialist depth vary widely. |
Public hospitals cap how much capacity they give to international services, according to press summaries of national guidelines. We have not found the original rule, so treat the exact share as unverified.
What every profile shows
- Identity and grade. Ownership, the official grade where the authorities publish one, and the year the hospital was founded.
- The international service. What the department is called, when it opened, and what the hospital says it offers.
- How to reach it. Location within the hospital, the published phone number and the booking channels.
- Payment and insurance. Whether the hospital reports direct billing with insurers. Our payment guide covers the rest.
- What we have not confirmed. Languages, opening hours and prices stay marked as unconfirmed until the hospital tells us in writing.
Where we are looking first
We started with Shanghai, which runs a public hospital pilot for international medical services. Beijing and Shenzhen follow. The city index compares the three.
How to use a profile with the rest of this site
A hospital profile answers "can this hospital see me, and how do I reach it?". It does not answer whether you should travel at all. For that, start with what care costs, check the visa rules, and read what to bring to a hospital visit. The treatments page explains which kinds of care fit a short trip.
Questions to ask a hospital before you book
Copy these into your first email to the international department.
- Do you accept patients who are not yet in China, and how do you schedule them?
- Which languages will the doctor and the nurses use with me? Is an interpreter provided?
- Can you send a written estimate that lists consultation, tests and any procedure separately?
- Do you bill my insurer directly? Which insurers, and do you need a guarantee of payment?
- Can you issue a letter I can use for a visa application, if I need one?
- How will I receive reports and images, and in which language?
- Who do I contact after I return home?
Frequently asked questions
Which hospital in China is the best for foreigners?
We do not rank hospitals. The right hospital depends on the care you need, the city, the language support you need and your insurance. Profiles give you the facts to compare.
Why are some hospitals missing?
We publish a profile only after the hospital confirms its details in writing. Hospitals we are still checking are not shown on the public site.
Are international departments more expensive?
Usually yes. Caixin reported prices three to five times higher than standard outpatient care at the same hospital. You pay for language support and shorter waits.
Can I contact the hospital directly instead of using you?
Yes. Every profile lists the hospital's own published contact details. Our coordination is optional and priced separately.
Sources
- China Draws More Foreign Patients, but Medical Tourism Is Still a Niche, Caixin Global, 5 Feb 2026. Read 19 Oct 2026. Partly paywalled.
- New rules on fully foreign-owned hospitals, Shanghai Municipal People's Government, 2 Dec 2024. Read 19 Oct 2026.