This excerpt is taken from the US Consular Information Sheet for China (the latest version of which can be accessed by clicking here). MEDICAL FACILITIES AND HEALTH INFORMATION: Western-style 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 medical technology and physicians who are both knowledgeable and skilled. 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 BlueCross BlueShield’s worldwide network providers - overseas network hospitals’ list (http://www.fepblue.org/wasite/wabenefits/wa-benefitsoverseas04.html): Hong Kong Adventist Hospital, Beijing United Family Hospital, Beijing Friendship Hospital, International Medical Center in Beijing, and Peking Union Medical Center. 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 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. All Americans traveling to China are strongly encouraged to buy foreign medical care and medical evacuation insurance prior to arrival. Travelers who want a list of modern medical facilities in China can access that information at the Embassy’s website. 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. In rural areas, only rudimentary medical facilities are generally available with often 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. Foreign-operated medical providers catering to expatriates and visitors are available in China. SOS International, Ltd., operates modern medical and dental clinics and provides medical evacuation and medical escort services in Beijing, Nanjing, Tianjin and Shekou, as well as 24hr Alarm Centers in Beijing and Shanghai. Through clinics in Beijing (24 hours), Tianjin, Nanjing and Shekou, SOS offers international standard family practice services, emergency medical services and a range of clinical services. The emergency assistance services SOS offers through alarm centers in Hong Kong, Shanghai and Beijing compliment their clinics. Each Alarm Center provides 24-hour hotline services to all global members when they are in China. Any problem from lost luggage to a serious medical condition can be reported to the alarm center, where multilingual coordinators and doctors are on duty to respond to all manners of emergencies. To provide these services, SOS has developed an external network of hospitals, airlines and local authorities with whom they work to deliver a fast and efficient response. These services also support the many remote site medical staff, equipment and facilities that SOS provides to clients. For medical emergencies anywhere in mainland China, Americans can call the SOS International, Ltd., 24-hour "Alarm Center" in Beijing at telephone (86-10) 6462-9100 or in Shanghai at (86-21) 6295-0099 for advice and referrals to local facilities. SOS International Alarm Centers can also be contacted in Hong Kong at telephone (852) 2428-9900 and in the United States at (215) 245-4707. For a full list of SOS locations and phone numbers, consult the SOS website at http://www.internationalsos.com. Beijing United Family Hospital and Clinics ("BJU") Tel.: (8610) 64333960/1/2/3/4/5 (24-hour service), Fax : (8610) 64333963. BJU is the first and remains the only foreign-invested full service international standard 50-bed hospital operating in Beijing, China. BJU was opened in 1997 by Chindex International, an American company, which in 2002 was awarded the US Secretary of State’s Award for Corporate Excellence. BJU offers the full range of specialties including Family Practice, Internal Medicine, Surgery, Obstetrics/Gynecology, Pediatrics, Dentistry, Psychiatry and Physiotherapy, in addition to a 24-hour Emergency Room staffed solely by Expatriate Staff Specialists. These Physicians are all board qualified (or equivalent) in their respective fields and include specialties such as Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine. Additionally, staff is fluent in a wide range of languages, including English French, German, Japanese, Spanish, Swedish, and Finnish. Facilities include 2 Operating Theatres, international standard 5 star LDRP birthing suites, Neonatal ICU, a 4-bed Adult ICU, General Inpatient facilities, and standard support services such as Digital Radiology, Ambulance services, Pharmacy, Laboratory and a 24 hour on-site Blood Bank with emergency blood pre-screened to the American Blood Bank standard. Bayley & Jackson Beijing Medical Center #7 Ritan Dong Lu, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100020 ( 8610) 8562-9998 Fax: (8610) 8561-4866 email: info@bjhealthcare.com Website: www.bjhealthcare.com Beijing United Family Hospital and Clinics #2 Jiang Tai Lu, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100016 (8610) 6433-3960 Fax: (8610) 6433-3963 Emergency Hotline: (8610) 6433-2345 Website: www.bjunited.com.cn Beijing United Family Clinic - Shunyi Pinnacle Plaza, Unit # 818 Tian Zhu Real Estate Development Zone Shunyi District, 101312 (8610) 8046-5432 Fax: (8610) 8046-4383 Peking Union Medical Hospital 1 Shuai Fu Yuan, Dong Cheng Distict, Beijing 100730 Tel: 86-10-6529-5269(registration and information); 86-10-6529-5284 (24 hours); 86-10-6529-6114 (operator) Modern Facilities with English speaking staff. Separate ward for foreign patients. World Link Shanghai Clinics: Expatriate doctors and imported vaccines. Portman Clinic: Shanghai Center #203 W, 1376 Nanjing Xi Lu, 200040 Tel: 86-10-6279-7688. For appointments: 86-10-6279-8678 Fax: 86-10-6279-7698 Hong Qiao Clinic: Mandarin City Unit 30, 788 Hong Xu Lu, 201103 Tel: 86-106405-5788; Fax: 86-10-6405-3587 Shanghai United Family Hospital and Clinics 1139 Xian Xia Rd., Chang Ning District, Shanghai 200336 PRC Tel: 86-21-5133-1900 (information and registration) Fax: 86-21-5133-1919 Website: http://www.shanghaiunited.com/ GlobalDoctor, Ltd., has opened clinics staffed by English-speaking doctors within the VIP wards of government-run hospitals in Chengdu, Nanjing, and Beijing. GlobalDoctor can be reached by telephone from China at 86-10-8456-9191 or on the Internet at http://www.eglobaldoctor.com/. Additional information on medical providers specializing in treating foreigners for general medical, dental and orthodontic problems are available at http://www.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 Internet site at http://www.cdc.gov/travel. For information about outbreaks of infectious diseases abroad consult the World Health Organization’s (WHO) website at http://www.who.int/en. Further health information for travelers is available at http://www.who.int/ith. MEDICAL INSURANCE: The Department of State strongly urges Americans to consult with their medical insurance company prior to traveling abroad to confirm whether their policy applies overseas and whether it will cover emergency expenses such as a medical evacuation. Please see our information on medical insurance overseas at http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1470.html.