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Healthcare in China: cost & waiting times
Statutory health insuranceAlmost everyone has basic medical insurance — through the urban employee scheme or the urban-rural resident scheme — administered by the National Healthcare Security Administration. People generally go straight to hospital outpatient departments rather than a GP. Many large hospitals have international (VIP) departments, and private international hospitals serve foreigners in big cities.
Emergency number: Ambulance 120 · Police 110 · Fire 119
How residents get care
- Go to a hospital outpatient department — Register (guahao) at the hospital — increasingly via WeChat or the hospital's app — choosing a general or 'expert' doctor.
- Pay as you go — Each step (registration, tests, medicines) is paid for separately; insurance reimburses part.
- International departments — Many top hospitals have international departments with English-speaking staff at higher prices.
- Private international hospitals — Groups such as United Family Healthcare serve expats in major cities.
Official waiting-time source
China doesn't publish waiting times. Appointments with top experts at famous hospitals can be hard to get; otherwise care is fast.
No public waiting-time statistics ↗
Typical private costs
Typical self-pay prices — for an exact figure use the official links above or ask a clinic for a written quote.
| Item | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Public hospital outpatient visit (registration + consultation) | CN¥20–CN¥300 |
| International clinic consultation | CN¥1,000–CN¥2,500 |
| MRI (public hospital) | CN¥600–CN¥1,500 |
| Cataract surgery, per eye (private) | CN¥9,600–CN¥14,000 |
| Hip replacement (private) | CN¥48,000–CN¥62,000 |
Typical waits & prices by procedure
Typical averages for comparison, not quotes. Public care is free or nominal at the point of use unless noted. Private care has no standard queue — availability depends on the provider. Where an official statistic exists (UK, Ireland, Poland) the interactive guide shows it, dated and sourced.
| Procedure | Typical public wait | Typical private price |
|---|---|---|
| GP / primary-care appointment | ~2 days | CN¥240–CN¥480 |
| Specialist consultation (first) | ~27 days | CN¥720–CN¥1,200 |
| MRI scan (one area) | ~13 days | CN¥1,400–CN¥2,400 |
| CT scan | ~13 days | CN¥1,600–CN¥2,800 |
| Gastroscopy / endoscopy | ~19 days | CN¥6,400–CN¥9,600 |
| Cataract surgery (per eye) | ~38 days | CN¥9,600–CN¥14,000 |
| Knee arthroscopy | ~53 days | CN¥18,000–CN¥26,000 |
| Inguinal hernia repair | ~46 days | CN¥12,000–CN¥18,000 |
| Gallbladder removal | ~55 days | CN¥22,000–CN¥32,000 |
| Hip replacement | ~63 days | CN¥48,000–CN¥62,000 |
| Knee replacement | ~71 days | CN¥52,000–CN¥68,000 |
| Tonsillectomy | ~53 days | CN¥12,000–CN¥16,000 |
| Carpal tunnel release | ~50 days | CN¥7,200–CN¥11,000 |
| X-ray | ~4 days | CN¥320–CN¥600 |
| Ultrasound scan | ~8 days | CN¥600–CN¥1,100 |
| Echocardiogram | ~13 days | CN¥1,000–CN¥1,700 |
| Colonoscopy | ~21 days | CN¥7,200–CN¥11,000 |
| Coronary angiogram | ~13 days | CN¥10,000–CN¥15,000 |
| Varicose vein removal | ~42 days | CN¥12,000–CN¥18,000 |
| Lumbar disc surgery (discectomy) | ~57 days | CN¥36,000–CN¥52,000 |
| Rotator cuff repair (shoulder) | ~53 days | CN¥26,000–CN¥36,000 |
| Hysterectomy | ~42 days | CN¥28,000–CN¥42,000 |
| Vasectomy | ~21 days | CN¥1,600–CN¥2,800 |
| Bunion surgery | ~53 days | CN¥16,000–CN¥22,000 |
Prescriptions
Medicines are dispensed by the hospital pharmacy or bought at pharmacies; insurance reimburses listed medicines in part.
Dental care
Basic dental treatment is partly reimbursed; most dental work is paid privately.
Adult public dental cover: limited. Typical self-pay prices:
| Treatment | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Check-up + X-rays | CN¥160–CN¥360 |
| Scale & polish | CN¥240–CN¥480 |
| Filling | CN¥360–CN¥800 |
| Extraction | CN¥360–CN¥1,000 |
| Root canal | CN¥1,195–CN¥2,795 |
| Crown | CN¥1,595–CN¥3,590 |
| Implant (post only) | CN¥4,790–CN¥9,975 |
| Implant + crown | CN¥7,980–CN¥13,965 |
| Veneer (per tooth) | CN¥1,595–CN¥3,590 |
| Full denture (per arch) | CN¥1,995–CN¥4,790 |
Finding a doctor or specialist
Well-known hospital groups (listed, not vetted or ranked):
- United Family Healthcare ↗
- Peking Union Medical College Hospital (international department) ↗
- Raffles Medical China ↗
Check a provider's inspection rating or registration with National Health Commission ↗.
Health insurance
Insurers and schemes people in China commonly use, and cover for visitors. Listed for comparison, not recommended — check the policy wording yourself.
| Insurer | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| National Healthcare Security Administration (basic medical insurance) ↗ | National / public scheme | Basic insurance for residents. |
| Ping An Insurance ↗ | Local health insurer | Health insurance. |
| China Life ↗ | Local health insurer | Health insurance. |
| Bupa Global ↗ | International / expat cover | International health plans for expats. |
Visiting China?
Your entitlement: None — no agreement with the UK and the GHIC isn't valid. Visitors pay, often a deposit before treatment.
EHIC / GHIC: EHIC/GHIC not valid.
Pharmacies: Pharmacies are widespread; some foreign medicines are unavailable — bring enough of your own.
Insurance: Travel insurance essential; check the insurer has direct billing arrangements with international hospitals.
Useful links
Open the full interactive guide, compare tool & tracker →Content last checked: 2026-10-02. Figures are typical/official-source references, not quotes — see the links above for the current real number.