How to Book a Hospital Appointment in China

Booking a hospital appointment in China works very differently from Western countries. The system is called 挂号 (guàhào) — literally "register a number." Understanding the process will save you hours of confusion.

The Two Paths: Private vs. Public

Path 1: Private International Hospitals (Easy)

Hospitals like United Family, Jiahui International, Raffles Medical, and Parkway Health work like Western private clinics:

• English-language websites with online booking
• English phone lines — call and describe your needs
• Email booking — some accept appointment requests via email
• Wait time: Typically 1–7 days for general appointments; specialists may take 1–2 weeks
• No referral needed — you can book specialists directly

Path 2: Public Hospitals (More Steps, Much Cheaper)

Public hospitals serve the vast majority of patients in China and have the most experienced specialists — but the booking system was designed for Chinese citizens. Here's how to navigate it as a foreigner.

Booking at a Public Hospital — Step by Step

Option A: Book the International Department (Recommended for Foreigners)

Most major public hospitals (Peking Union, West China, Zhongshan, Ruijin, etc.) have international medical departments (国际医疗部) with:

• English-speaking coordinators
• Dedicated phone lines for international patients
• Shorter wait times than standard departments
• Pricing: 2–5x standard rates, but still far below US/EU costs

How to book:

1. Find the hospital's international department phone number (listed on their website or on MedChina)
2. Call and explain your needs in English
3. They will schedule an appointment and tell you what to bring
4. Some hospitals accept booking via WeChat — add the international department's WeChat contact

Option B: Book via Hospital App or WeChat Mini-Program

Most public hospitals have official apps or WeChat mini-programs for booking:

1. Open the hospital's mini-program in WeChat (search the hospital's Chinese name)
2. Register with your passport number — select "护照" (passport) as your ID type
3. Choose department, doctor, date, and time slot
4. Pay the registration fee via WeChat Pay or Alipay

Important: First-time passport registration may require 1–3 days of manual review before you can book. Plan ahead.

Option C: Walk-In Registration (Same-Day)

If you don't have an appointment:

1. Arrive before 7:00 AM for best availability (popular specialist slots sell out quickly)
2. Go to the registration counter (挂号窗口) with your passport
3. Tell them which department you need — or say "国际医疗部" (international medical department)
4. Pay the registration fee and receive a queue number
5. Wait for your number to be called

Best days: Tuesday to Thursday afternoons are usually calmest. Avoid Monday mornings and weekends.

Registration Fees (挂号费)

What to Bring

• Passport (original — mandatory for registration)
• Previous medical records — imaging, lab results, pathology reports, prescriptions
• Translated medical summary — if your records are not in English or Chinese, bring a translated summary
• Insurance card (if applicable) and your insurer's pre-authorization letter
• Cash and/or mobile payment — you'll pay registration fees before seeing the doctor
• A Chinese-speaking companion — especially useful at public hospital standard departments

What to Expect During Your Visit

1. Check-in at the department reception with your registration slip
2. Wait in the department waiting area (international departments are much shorter waits)
3. Consultation — typically 10–20 minutes. Chinese doctors are direct and efficient
4. Tests/imaging — if ordered, go to the relevant department, pay, get tested, return with results
5. Follow-up — the doctor reviews results and prescribes treatment
6. Payment — pay for treatment at the cashier before receiving it
7. Treatment — take your paid receipt to the treatment area

The entire process for a consultation + tests can take 2–4 hours at a public hospital or 1–2 hours at a private hospital.

Language Support

• Private hospitals: Full English service standard
• Public hospital international departments: English-speaking coordinators available
• Public hospital standard departments: Very limited English. Consider:
  • Bringing a Chinese-speaking friend or colleague
  • Hiring a medical interpreter (¥500–1,500/day through agencies)
  • Using translation apps (Google Translate camera feature works for reading signs and prescriptions)
  • Some cities offer "International Service" WeChat mini-programs with English interfaces (e.g., Beijing)

Booking Tips

• For planned procedures: Contact the hospital 2–4 weeks in advance. For popular specialists, 1–2 months ahead
• For emergencies: Go directly to the emergency department (急诊, jízhěn). No registration needed. All hospitals accept walk-in emergencies 24/7
• Get a hospital contact person: Ask for a direct WeChat contact at the international department. This becomes your liaison for all future communication
• Second opinions: It's common and acceptable to see doctors at multiple hospitals before deciding on treatment

Last updated: March 2026.