Foreigners can be treated at China's leading public hospitals, and most of them do so as self-paying patients through an international department or the hospital's standard specialist clinics. The process is manageable once you know the order of steps: get the records reviewed, choose the right department, confirm the hospital's plan and quote, then arrange the visa and travel.
This guide walks through each step for patients and family members from any country. It is general information, not medical advice — clinical decisions are always made by the treating hospital.
How Chinese hospitals are organized
Most specialist care in China is delivered by large public hospitals rather than private clinics. The national grading system places the largest and most capable hospitals in the highest tier, known as Grade 3A (三级甲等). These are usually university teaching hospitals with many specialist departments.
Many leading public hospitals run an international or VIP department. These departments typically handle registration, scheduling and self-pay billing for foreign patients, and some have English-speaking staff. Where a hospital has no such department, international patients use the standard specialist clinics, which work mainly in Chinese.
Step 1: Gather and translate your medical records
The single most useful thing you can do first is collect complete, recent records. A hospital cannot judge whether it can help without them.
- A summary letter or discharge summary from your current doctor
- Pathology and biopsy reports, where relevant
- Imaging reports and the original image files (CT, MRI or PET in DICOM format), not only screenshots
- Recent blood tests and a list of current medications and allergies
- A list of treatments already received, with dates
Records in any language can be used; they are translated for the reviewing specialists. Our guide to preparing your medical records before you travel covers this in detail.
Step 2: Choose the right hospital and department
The right hospital is the one whose department is strongest for your specific condition, not necessarily the most famous name. A dedicated cancer hospital, a cardiovascular hospital or an eye hospital may suit some cases better than a general hospital, and vice versa.
Horcare's approach is specialty-first: we start from the diagnosis and look for the departments that treat it in volume, then consider city, language support and practical logistics. You can browse the hospitals we help patients access and read how to choose the right hospital for your condition.
Step 3: Get the hospital's review and quote
Before you travel, the hospital's specialists should review your records and confirm that they can accept the case. Most will also give an indicative treatment plan and cost estimate. This step protects you from booking flights for a trip that may not be appropriate.
Hospital quotes are estimates. The final bill depends on the tests and treatment actually carried out, and any change of plan should come with a revised quote.
Step 4: Arrange your visa and travel
Visa requirements depend on your nationality, the purpose of your trip and how long you will stay. Some nationalities can enter China visa-free for short stays, but planned treatment often takes longer. Hospitals can usually provide documents such as an appointment confirmation or invitation letter to support a visa application.
Rules change, so always confirm current requirements with the Chinese embassy or visa center. See our explainer on China medical visas and hospital invitation letters.
Step 5: Understand how payment works
International patients are generally self-paying. You pay the hospital directly, usually a deposit on admission and final settlement on discharge, against an itemized bill. Accepted methods vary by hospital. Read how to pay hospital bills in China for practical detail.
Where a coordinator helps — and where it does not
You can contact Chinese hospitals directly. A coordination service such as Horcare helps with the parts that are hardest from abroad: identifying the right department, translating and presenting records, requesting the review, scheduling, interpreting, and the practical side of travel and follow-up.
Horcare is not a medical provider. We do not diagnose, prescribe or guarantee outcomes, and we never mark up hospital bills. If you would like help, the first step is a free case review.
