Seeing a doctor in China — clinics, ER & pharmacies
Updated September 2026 · Verified against official sources
Foreigners can see a doctor in China without residency — here is how the system works.
Talking to a doctor at a clinic counter
The hard facts (you cannot guess these)
120
Ambulance for emergencies
Self-pay
Tourists pay out of pocket
Rx only
Prescription needed at pharmacy
Passport
Register with your passport
Sources: Beijing Govt foreign-patient guide; hospital guides.
Emergency or routine — pick the path
Emergency → 120. Otherwise pick public, international, or private based on language and insurance.
Keep every receipt — your travel insurance back home reimburses it.
Ask it once, get one answer — not four things to read.
Public hospitals are strong but Chinese-heavy; international departments and private clinics speak English and often bill insurance directly.
A normal clinic visit, step by step
Register with your passport, see the doctor, pay per service, fill the prescription.
- Costs vary widely by city and hospital.
- OTC yes; prescription needs an Rx.
- Use licensed pharmacy chains.
Register with your passport, see the doctor, pay per service, then fill the prescription at the hospital pharmacy.
⚠ Things people actually get stuck on
▶
- Did not know 120 is the ambulance
- Assumed insurance covered it directly
- Wanted antibiotics OTC, refused
- Online registration rejected the passport
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