| Shanghai has a reputation for having the best | | | | hospital (so you won't have to worry about |
| medical facilities in all of mainland China, and | | | | paperwork during an emergency), and practicing |
| expats should have no worries in finding quality | | | | an emergency run-through with your family |
| healthcare when needed Western-style clinics and | | | | where you drive to the hospital. Additionally, you |
| hospitals have been especially set up to serve the | | | | can prepare an emergency folder listing all of your |
| ever-expanding expat population. Facilities at these | | | | family's medical conditions, allergies, medications |
| institutions are improving every year, and some | | | | and surgical histories. Even if you primarily go to a |
| include 24 hour care and accident and emergency | | | | western hospital, it's a good idea to have the |
| departments with trained international staff at | | | | folder's contents in both English and Chinese. |
| hand. | | | | You also might want to make a card with the |
| A good number of public hospitals have set up | | | | hospital's address and contact information that |
| VIP clinics, which cater specifically to expats. | | | | you and your children can keep with you at all |
| Foreigners are technically required to go to either | | | | times. Shanghai United family Hospital supplies |
| a western-operated clinic or one of these VIP | | | | cards that allow parents to give the hospital |
| clinics, although some expats go to their local | | | | power of attorney. This can be important in |
| neighborhood hospital. VIP perks include | | | | avoiding delays if the child is brought to the |
| English-speaking staff, a nurse that will escort you | | | | hospital by someone other than their parent, and |
| around the hospital, and no waiting. | | | | the parent is not available. |
| Attending a public hospital means you will have to | | | | Private Healthcare |
| pay a registration fee before treatment; this can | | | | Private hospitals tend to be smaller, with friendly |
| cost RMB 10 to 15 for local hospitals and roughly | | | | service and specialized equipment. Hospital bills at a |
| RMB 100 for VIP clinics. VIP sections vary - some | | | | private institution will generally be much heftier |
| will charge fees comparable to local services, but | | | | that a public hospital's and can add up to as much |
| some will charge five times this amount. | | | | as a hospital fee in a western country. You may |
| If you're looking for a warm and inviting attitude | | | | find yourself paying tens of thousands of yuan |
| from a doctor you should probably refer to the | | | | for a week's worth of tests and medication, even |
| list of internationally focused western hospitals and | | | | if you condition is not that serious, compared with |
| clinics, where the doctors will be trained to provide | | | | RMB 1000 at a public hospital for similar |
| the bedside manner you expect. Otherwise, | | | | treatment. A regular check-up costs around RMB |
| Shanghai's medical services do not emphasize | | | | 500, but will usually total RMB 1000 or more when |
| human relations, and you might find staff to be | | | | basic medicine is provided. |
| unfriendly, blunt or uncommunicative. | | | | Health Insurance |
| A reliable general practitioner (GP) can be good | | | | If medical insurance is not supplied by your |
| for annual check-ups and can serve as a | | | | employer, no one will force you to buy it. Rates |
| reference whenever you have a health-related | | | | vary dramatically based on your personal situation |
| concern. When looking for the right doctor for | | | | and what type of insurance plan you want to buy. |
| you and your family, it's best to listen to the | | | | For a free quote on expat packages, you can go |
| recommendations of your friends and colleagues. | | | | through an insurance broker such as Bupa |
| Before you come to China, you're advised to get | | | | International or Expatriate Insurance Services. A |
| the following immunizations up to date: hepatitis A | | | | basic insurance plan can be bought for as little as |
| and B, tetanus, polio and typhoid. If you are | | | | RMB 4000 per year, but premium annual |
| considering venturing to more rural areas, you | | | | insurance can cost as much as RMB 40000. |
| should look into getting a rabies vaccination and | | | | Pharmacies |
| the series of Japanese encephalitis shots. | | | | Many kinds of medicine can be obtained over the |
| Travelers from South America, central Africa and | | | | counter in Shanghai and prescriptions are rarely |
| other vulnerable areas are required to provide a | | | | needed. Be wary of fake drugs or mislabeled |
| yellow fever vaccination certificate upon arrival | | | | products and always buy from reputable |
| into China. Be sure to consult your physician | | | | pharmacies that are government-run or |
| before you get the vaccinations; women who are | | | | associated with a hospital. Look out for bad |
| pregnant or breastfeeding are advised not to | | | | spelling on packages and suspicious labels that |
| receive any of the above immunizations. | | | | appear inauthentic. Medicine will often be sold |
| Government Healthcare | | | | under different brand names here, so write down |
| There is no formal government healthcare | | | | the chemical or pharmaceutical that you are |
| system in place for Chinese citizens. | | | | looking for as well as the Chinese brand name. |
| Uninsured and insured alike have to largely pay | | | | In recent years, the government has tried to |
| out of their own pockets. About half of Shanghai's | | | | regulate over-the-counter medicines, so you |
| local residents are part of the government's social | | | | should bring a prescription from your GP for |
| welfare insurance plan, through which citizens pay | | | | antibiotics and more serious drugs. Painkillers, |
| an insurance premium via their employer and in | | | | cough and allergy medicines, digestive remedies, |
| turn receive money for their public hospital fees. | | | | skincare medication and vitamins or dietary |
| For expatriates though, there is really no choice. | | | | supplements are all available over the counter. |
| Company packages will often include a | | | | Huashan Pharmacy (12 Wulumuqi Lu; 6248 5674) |
| comprehensive health insurance plan or individuals | | | | have 24 hour service with a large selection of |
| can choose to buy their own plan. | | | | both western and Chinese medicine. Other |
| Emergency Services | | | | pharmacies can be found throughout the city and |
| If you can safely transport the victim without | | | | are marked by large green crosses. |
| causing further injury, then it is almost always a | | | | Many of the reliable brands you may be |
| good idea to find your own fastest way of | | | | accustomed to using don't exist in Shanghai, so |
| getting to the hospital, either by driving yourself | | | | stock up whenever you're backing home. If |
| or by taxi. Ambulance response times are typically | | | | bringing prescriptions from overseas, be sure to |
| slow; Shanghai traffic does not yield to | | | | have a medical certificate from your doctor. |
| emergency vehicles and they may have trouble | | | | Shanghai United Family Hospital's pharmacies can |
| finding you. The ambulance service can be treated | | | | order and import special overseas medication for |
| by dialing 120. The operator will most likely not | | | | patients on an individual basis if necessary. |
| speak English, so it's useful to learn a couple of | | | | Health Check-Ups |
| Chinese phrases such as where you live and the | | | | Regular medical checkups are offered by all the |
| address of whichever hospital you want to go to. | | | | major hospitals and clinics. Well-woman and |
| Ambulance workers are not required to know | | | | will-man checkups are provided by some hospitals |
| basic procedures like cardiopulmonary resuscitation | | | | and clinics under the guise of 'health screening' |
| (CPR), so you might want to fake a class | | | | services. Most of expat hospitals offer |
| yourself. is a good place to learn. | | | | comprehensive check-up that requires two |
| Before an emergency even occurs, you should | | | | sessions to complete. The first session involves |
| work out a plan of action with your family. This | | | | diagnostic evaluations that include an eye |
| includes deciding on a facility that is open 24 hours | | | | screening, x-ray, ECG, ultrasound, stress test, |
| a day, calling to pre-register your details with the | | | | blood drawing and urine collection. |