Resources

Shanghai's leading public hospitals operate international departments staffed by senior physicians — often the same doctors who treat patients on the public side. Equipment, protocols and surgical volume are on par with major Western teaching hospitals, and several facilities are JCI-accredited. For most planned procedures, the standard of care is genuinely comparable.

We work exclusively with public AAA hospitals — the institutions where Chinese patients themselves go for serious conditions. Our guide to China's hospital rating system explains what the ratings mean and why public hospital reputations differ so much from private ones.

Costs vary by procedure, hospital and physician, but international departments in Shanghai typically come in well below US out-of-pocket prices for comparable care. You receive a clear fee estimate during your consultation — our Fees & Payment Policy explains how coordination fees work.

Yes. We prepare certified English translations of your records and discharge summaries, formatted so your home physicians and insurers can use them directly. Your US or Canadian doctor remains part of your care loop throughout.

For a typical planned procedure, start six to ten weeks ahead: records, consultation, visa decision and travel. Visa-free entry covers many short visits; for longer treatment courses, the S2 medical visa is the safer route — our visa guidance walks you through both.

Most international-department physicians are comfortable in English, and our team provides a bilingual coordinator for every appointment — you will never be left to manage medical discussions alone. Interpreting is included in our coordination service, not billed per hour.

Use the Book a Consultation button on this site: pick a time slot that suits you, and you will receive an immediate confirmation by email. We will then reach out to collect your medical records and schedule your video consultation with the relevant physician.

For short visits, citizens of many countries — including the US, UK, Canada and most of the EU — can enter China visa-free for up to 30 days. If your treatment will take longer, apply for the S2 medical visa before you travel; it gives you a longer, treatment-appropriate stay and is the safer route for planned procedures.

If your treatment runs longer than expected, you can apply at the local Exit-Entry Administration office to extend your stay or change your purpose of stay to medical. We help prepare the required documents — with a confirmed treatment plan and physician's letter, extensions are routinely granted.

We cannot bill US or Canadian insurers directly, but we provide all documentation you need to claim reimbursement after treatment — itemized invoices, certified medical reports and English translations. Payment is made directly to the hospital in RMB; we arrange the payment logistics and currency guidance for you.

Bring your latest test results, imaging (on disc or cloud), medication list, and any letters from your home physicians. If you have had prior surgery or treatment for the same condition, include those records too. We review everything before your first consultation so no time is wasted on repeat testing.

Yes — family members are welcome. Shanghai has excellent family-friendly accommodation near the major hospitals, and we can arrange airport pickup, hotel recommendations and an itinerary so your companion can focus on supporting you.

Yes. We keep your home physician informed at every stage — records before treatment, a full summary and translated discharge documents afterwards — so care continues seamlessly when you return.

Your records are handled under strict confidentiality, in line with Chinese data-protection law. Documents are shared only with the physicians treating you and, where you authorise it, with your home doctor or insurer.