Medical tourism in China has developed rapidly in recent years, integrating the two major needs of “medical care” and “travel” and covering a wide range of types, including disease treatment, health management, rehabilitation and convalescence, and medical beauty and plastic surgery. The following is a comprehensive guide to the application and experience process for domestic and foreign tourists, covering preliminary preparations, application steps, on-site experiences, and precautions to help you plan efficiently.
I、 Preliminary Preparation: Clarify Your Needs and Select an Institution
The core of medical tourism is “safety + effectiveness.” Preliminary preparation should focus on addressing three key questions: “Where to go,” “What to do,” and “Is it suitable?”
1. Clarify Your Needs
• Health Needs: Are you seeking disease treatment (e.g., cancer, cardiovascular diseases), chronic disease management (e.g., diabetes, arthritis), health check-ups, medical aesthetics and plastic surgery (e.g., double eyelid surgery, rhinoplasty), or rehabilitation and convalescence (e.g., post-surgery recovery, traditional Chinese medicine therapy)? Different needs correspond to different types of medical institutions (general hospitals, specialized hospitals, medical aesthetics institutions, rehabilitation centers).
• Budget range: Medical tourism costs in China vary widely (e.g., routine check-ups cost approximately 2,000–5,000 RMB, while high-end cancer treatment may exceed one million RMB). It is essential to assess your financial capacity in advance (some services may be covered by medical insurance, while international patients typically pay out-of-pocket).
• Time planning: Treatment duration (e.g., surgery plus hospitalization may require 5–10 days, while rehabilitation and convalescence may take 1–3 months) and travel time (to avoid conflicts with work schedules).
2. Selecting legitimate medical institutions
Choosing a qualified and reputable institution is key to safety. Focus on verifying the following points:
• Domestic qualifications: Check the Medical Institution Practice License (which must include the diagnostic and treatment subjects of the proposed project). Public hospitals are preferred (e.g., Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Ruijin Hospital in Shanghai). Private institutions must confirm whether they have JCI certification (Joint Commission International, the world's most stringent medical quality standard).
• International recognition: For foreign patients, prioritize institutions with international departments or international medical centers (e.g., West China Hospital International Department, Guangzhou United Family Hospital). Some institutions collaborate with overseas insurance companies (enabling direct settlement).
• Reputation and case studies: Review genuine evaluations through official websites, patient forums (e.g., TripAdvisor's medical section), and social media (e.g., Xiaohongshu/Weibo patient shares) to avoid “black clinics.”
3. Language and Cultural Adaptation
• Foreign patients should confirm whether the institution provides translation services (common languages such as English, Russian, Arabic, etc.) or hire a professional medical translator independently (to avoid communication errors affecting treatment).
• Understand Chinese cultural customs (such as dietary taboos and medical etiquette). Some institutions offer “medical + tourism” packages (such as hot spring hotels combining traditional Chinese medicine therapy or traditional Chinese medicine cultural experience tours).
II、Application Process: From Appointment to Document Submission
The application process varies slightly depending on the patient's nationality (domestic/foreign) and the type of program. The following scenarios are provided for reference:
Scenario 1: Domestic Patients Traveling to Other Cities in China for Medical Tourism
Core Steps: Select Institution → Schedule Appointment → Prepare Documents → Travel
• Appointment: Book through the hospital's official website, official app, phone, or third-party platforms (e.g., WeDoctor, Good Doctor Online). Popular departments (e.g., renowned specialist clinics) require booking 1–2 weeks in advance.
• Document Preparation: ID card, medical insurance card (some projects are reimbursable), previous medical records/test reports (with the original hospital's official seal), recent physical examination reports (if surgery is required).
• Additional Requirements for Special Services:
• Medical Aesthetics and Plastic Surgery: Provide original ID card + photo (some institutions require a pre-surgery risk assessment form);
• Rehabilitation Therapy: Provide a referral letter from the attending physician (stating the necessity of rehabilitation);
• Traditional Chinese Medicine Therapy: Some institutions require tongue coating/pulse pattern records (can be prepared in advance).
Scenario 2: Foreign patients coming to China for medical tourism
Core steps: Confirm visa → Select institution → Submit materials → Enter the country → Complete treatment
• Visa application:
• General medical tourism (such as physical examinations, medical aesthetics): You can apply for a tourist visa (L visa). Some countries (such as Russia and Thailand) have visa exemptions or visa-on-arrival agreements with China. Please confirm in advance.
• Long-term treatment (over 6 months) or serious illnesses (e.g., cancer): A medical visa (M visa) is required, with the following documents:
◦ An invitation letter from a Chinese medical institution (specifying the treatment project, duration, and costs);
◦ A diagnostic certificate from the home country's hospital (translated and notarized);
◦ Financial guarantee (bank deposit certificate or insurance company guarantee letter);
◦ Criminal record certificate (required by some countries).
Note: Starting in 2023, China will pilot a “fast-track” process for certain countries, simplifying the medical visa application process (e.g., Malaysia, Singapore).
• Document submission:
• Passport (valid for more than 6 months) + visa page;
• Medical documentation (medical history, test reports, imaging records, etc., translated into English and notarized);
• Insurance proof (covering medical expenses in China; some institutions can assist with purchase);
• Financial proof (bank deposits/payroll records, demonstrating the ability to cover expenses).
• Post-arrival registration: Within 24 hours of arrival, temporary accommodation registration must be completed at the local police station (hotels typically offer this service).
III、On-site Experience: The Complete Process from Registration to Treatment
Regardless of whether patients are domestic or international, the on-site experience typically involves the following stages:
1. Hospital admission/registration
• Submit all original documents + copies (hospital retains copies for record-keeping);
• Complete the “Patient Information Registration Form” (including allergy history, medication history, contact information, etc.);
• Pay a deposit (based on estimated costs, settled after treatment completion).
2. Doctor Consultation and Treatment Plan Development
• Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) Consultation: For complex cases (e.g., tumors, cardiovascular diseases), the attending physician leads a discussion with experts from departments such as Radiology, Laboratory Medicine, and Rehabilitation Medicine to develop a personalized treatment plan;
• Informed Consent: The doctor explains the treatment plan, risks, expected outcomes, and costs in detail, and the patient signs the “Informed Consent Form” (foreign patients must confirm the language version);
• Preoperative Preparation (if required): Tests (blood routine, electrocardiogram, imaging), shaving, fasting, etc. Some procedures require advance scheduling of the operating room/equipment.
3. Treatment Implementation and Nursing Care
• Inpatients: Assigned to a ward (single or double rooms available), with nurses conducting daily rounds and monitoring vital signs;
• Outpatient patients: Attend appointments as scheduled; post-treatment observation required (e.g., 30-minute observation after aesthetic injections);
• Rehabilitation management: After treatment, doctors prescribe rehabilitation plans (e.g., physical therapy, medication); some institutions offer home rehabilitation guidance (online follow-ups).
4. Payment Settlement and Receipts
• Domestic patients: Medicare reimbursement (subject to Medicare coverage) + out-of-pocket expenses, paid directly via Medicare card or cash;
• Foreign patients: Full out-of-pocket payment (some institutions accept international credit cards, Alipay/WeChat Pay), retain invoices, expense lists, and diagnostic certificates (for reimbursement upon return to your home country or insurance claims).
IV、Important Notes: Pitfall Avoidance Guide and Safety Measures
1. Beware of “low-price traps”: Some institutions attract patients with claims like “cures all diseases” or “ultra-low-cost surgery.” Verify their qualifications (you can check the medical institution's practice registration information on the National Health Commission's official website).
2. Clarify cost details: Request the institution to provide a “Cost List” (including examination fees, treatment fees, medication fees, hospitalization fees, etc.) to avoid hidden charges (such as post-surgery rehabilitation supplies or translation fees).
3. Medical dispute resolution: Domestic patients may file a complaint with the local Health Commission (telephone: 12320); foreign patients may seek assistance through their embassy or consulate, or exercise their rights in accordance with the “Administrative Measures for the Approval of Permanent Residence for Foreigners in China.”
4. Cultural respect: Traditional Chinese medicine treatments (such as acupuncture and moxibustion) must follow medical instructions (e.g., avoid fasting/overeating), and patients sensitive to the smell of Chinese medicine should inform the institution in advance; medical aesthetics projects must confirm “expected results” (to avoid excessive marketing).
V、Typical case reference
• Scenario: American patient John (65 years old) came to China for treatment of knee osteoarthritis.
• Process:
1. Pre-treatment: Selected the international department of a tertiary hospital in Shanghai (JCI-certified) through a recommendation from an American insurance company;
2. Visa: Applied for an M visa (submitted a diagnosis letter from an American hospital and a guarantee letter from the insurance company);
3. Upon arrival: Submitted passport, visa, and translated medical records; after assessment by the doctor, a treatment plan of “arthroscopy surgery + post-operative rehabilitation” was formulated;
4. Treatment: 5-day hospitalization (including surgery and post-operative observation), with daily English-language rounds by nurses;
5. Settlement: Total cost approximately 80,000 RMB (70% reimbursed by insurance company, 24,000 RMB paid out-of-pocket);
6. Follow-up: Communicate with the attending physician via email regarding rehabilitation progress after returning home.
Ⅵ、Summary
The core of medical tourism in China is “safety + professionalism + experience,” with the key being to choose reputable institutions, verify qualifications, and clarify needs. Whether for domestic cross-city travel or foreign tourists, advance planning and thorough communication are crucial to ensuring effective outcomes. As the “Healthy China 2030” strategy progresses, the international recognition of China's medical tourism will continue to rise, potentially making it a global hotspot for medical tourism in the future.