From CA Travel Info September 22, 2008

 MEDICAL FACILITIES AND HEALTH INFORMATION:  The standards of medical care in China are not equivalent to those in the United States.  Medical facilities with international staffs are available in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and a few other large cities.  Many other hospitals in major Chinese cities have so-called VIP wards (gaogan bingfang).  These feature reasonably up-to-date laboratory and imaging facilities.  The physicians in these centers are generally well-trained.  Most VIP wards also provide medical services to foreigners and have English-speaking doctors and nurses.  Most hospitals in China will not accept medical insurance from the United States, with the exception of the following hospitals, which are on the Blue Cross Blue Shield’s worldwide network providers - overseas network hospitals’ list (http://www.bcbs.com/bluecardworldwide/index.html): Hong Kong Adventist Hospital, Beijing United Family Hospital, Beijing Friendship Hospital, International Medical Center in Beijing, and Peking Union Medical Center.  Cash payment for services is often demanded before a patient is seen and treated, sometimes even in cases of emergency. Travelers will be asked to post a deposit prior to admission to cover the expected cost of treatment.  Hospitals in major cities may accept credit cards for payment.  Even in the VIP/foreigner wards of major hospitals, however, American patients have frequently encountered difficulty due to cultural, language, and regulatory differences.  Physicians and hospitals have sometimes refused to supply American patients with complete copies of their Chinese hospital medical records, including laboratory test results, scans, and x-rays.
 
Note: Travelers should note that commonly used American medication is generally not available in China.  Medications that bear the same or similar name to prescription medication from the United States are not always the same.  Americans should make sure to carry their prescriptions from their doctors if carrying prescription medication into China for personal use.

Read more about: Ambulences, international SOS, medical emergencies, and more.

Ambulances do not carry sophisticated medical equipment.  Injured or seriously ill Americans may be required to take taxis or other immediately available vehicles to the nearest major hospital rather than waiting for ambulances to arrive.  Generally, in rural areas, only rudimentary medical facilities are available, often with poorly trained medical personnel who have little medical equipment and medications.  Rural clinics are often reluctant to accept responsibility for treating foreigners, even in emergency situations.

Note from Jean: I have heard from my classmates at Tsinghua, that even if an ambulance came, if they could not find sufficient money on you or anyone nearby willing to cover for you, around the sum of 500 rmb, the ambulance will refuse to take you to the hospital. This rumor has not been verified.
 
International SOS operates modern medical and dental clinics and provides medical evacuation and medical escort services in Beijing, Nanjing, Tianjin, Shekou and Ulaanbaatar, as well as 24hr Alarm Centers in Beijing and Hong Kong.  Through its clinics in Beijing (24 hours), Tianjin, Nanjing and Shekou, International SOS offers international standard family practice services, emergency medical services and a range of clinical services.

For medical emergencies anywhere in mainland China, Americans can call the International SOS 24-hour "Alarm Center" in Beijing at telephone: (86) (10) 6462-9100 for advice and referrals to local facilities.  International SOS “Alarm Centers” can also be contacted in Hong Kong at telephone: (852) 2528-9900 and in the United States at: (215) 942-8226. For a full list of International SOS locations and phone numbers, consult the SOS web site at http://www.internationalsos.com.

The U.S. Embassy and Consulates in China maintain lists of local English-speaking doctors and hospitals, all of which are published on their respective ACS web pages at http://beijing.usembassy-china.org.cn.

Information on vaccinations and other health precautions, such as safe food and water precautions and insect bite protection, may be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s hotline for international travelers at 1-877-FYI-TRIP (1-877-394-8747) or via the CDC’s web site at http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/default.aspx.  For information about outbreaks of infectious diseases abroad consult the World Health Organization’s (WHO) web site at http://www.who.int/en.  Further health information for travelers is available at http://www.who.int/ith/en.

Tuberculosis is an increasingly serious health concern in China.  For further information, please consult the CDC's Travel Notice on TB http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/yellowBookCh4-TB.aspx.
Some HIV/AIDS entry restrictions exist for visitors to and foreign residents of China.  There are several laws in place that do not permit those with HIV/AIDS to enter China, and long-term residents must obtain clearance from Chinese health authorities.  Please verify this information with the Embassy of China at http://www.china-embassy.org/eng before you travel.

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