How to See a Doctor
in China
A public hospital in China works nothing like a clinic back home — no family doctor, no referral, and you pay before each step. Here is the exact process, from registration to picking up your medicine, plus how foreign patients get English help.
4 things that surprise most foreign patients
Chinese hospitals are fast and world-class, but the system assumes you already know how it works. Read these first and the ten steps below will make sense.
No GP, no referral
You don't need a family doctor to send you. You walk into a hospital and choose the department yourself.
Pay before every step
You pay before you see the doctor, before each test, and before you collect medicine — all by phone.
Same-day, first-come
Most visits are same-day. There is no "book two weeks ahead" — you register and wait your turn.
Mostly Mandarin
Signs, apps and calls are in Chinese. Top hospitals have English international departments; elsewhere, bring help.
See a doctor in 10 steps
This is the standard outpatient route at a Chinese public hospital. International and VIP departments follow the same logic with English staff and shorter queues.
Understand the hospital tiers
China's best care is at Grade 3A public hospitals — large, cheap and highly ranked, but crowded. For English comfort, look at a hospital's International Department or a private international hospital. Pick by the expertise you need, then by language and comfort.
Choose the right department
There is no receptionist to triage you — you select the department yourself: Cardiology, Orthopedics, Dermatology, and so on. Unsure which one? Ask the hospital's guide desk, or let an English-speaking companion match your symptoms to the right specialist.
Register and get a number
Registration is your ticket to a doctor. You can register at a self-service kiosk or window in the lobby, on the hospital's WeChat official account, or via the Alipay city-service / 114 platform. Choose a department and, if you like, a specific doctor's title (attending vs. chief physician).
Bring the essentials
Carry your passport (needed to register and to be admitted), a phone with WeChat Pay or Alipay linked to a card (or an international card as backup), and any prior records, scans or a medication list — ideally translated into Chinese. Add a Mandarin speaker or translation app for the consultation.
Check in at the department
Go to the department's nurse / triage station to confirm you've arrived and join the queue. Screens and audio call numbers in Chinese, so keep your registration slip or QR code handy and watch for your number.
See the doctor
Consultations are short and focused. Describe your symptoms clearly — through a translation app or companion — and expect the doctor to order tests before giving a diagnosis. You'll receive a digital order for lab work or imaging rather than an immediate prescription.
Pay, then do your tests
Take the doctor's order, pay for it at a kiosk, window or in the app, then go to the lab or imaging room. Results arrive in the hospital app or at a self-service printer — often within an hour or two. Return to the same doctor with your results to get the diagnosis and plan.
Collect your prescription and medicine
Once prescribed, pay for the medication and collect it from the hospital pharmacy. Ask staff to note the generic or English drug name so your doctor at home can continue the same treatment.
Follow-up, admission or surgery
For inpatient care or surgery you'll complete admission and pay a deposit. As a foreign patient this usually runs through the International Department for English support and scheduling.
Keep your records for home
Before you leave, request copies of your reports, imaging (film or disc) and a discharge summary. Ask for English versions where available so your doctor back home can pick up exactly where the Chinese team left off.
Getting English help — the shortcuts
You don't have to navigate a 5,000-bed hospital in Mandarin. Three things make the whole visit easier.
International departments
Most top hospitals have an International or VIP department with English-speaking staff, private rooms and shorter waits — at a higher price.
Insurance & billing
Public hospitals are usually pay-first, claim-later. Keep every itemised receipt. A few private/international hospitals offer direct billing with certain insurers.
An English companion
A medical companion registers you, holds your place in the queue, translates in the consultation, handles payments and walks you between buildings.
Skip the confusion — bring an English-speaking companion
Registration, queueing, translation, payments and navigation, all handled for you by a local who speaks your language. You just focus on seeing the right doctor.
Before you fly: set up your phone for China
WeChat, Alipay, maps that actually work, translation and an eSIM — the apps you need to register, pay and get to the hospital.
Seeing a doctor in China: FAQ
Do I need an appointment to see a doctor in China?
You need to "register" rather than book a Western-style appointment. Same-day registration is normal; only sought-after specialists release numbers a day or two ahead, and they go fast.
Can foreigners use Chinese public hospitals?
Yes. With your passport you can register at any public hospital. Many top hospitals also run International Departments with English-speaking staff for a higher fee.
Will the doctor speak English?
It varies. Top-tier and international departments often have English-speaking doctors; general outpatient clinics usually don't. Bring a translation app or an English-speaking medical companion.
How do I pay at a Chinese hospital?
Almost everything is cashless via WeChat Pay or Alipay (a bank card also works at windows). You pay before each consultation, test and prescription — not in one bill at the end.
Can I book surgery in China before I arrive?
Generally no — surgery follows an in-person consultation and tests. International and VIP departments can expedite the assessment and scheduling once you're in China.
