Health Care
Generally health care in Shanghai is good and facilities continue to improve. Most expats use one of the Western-oriented facilities. Consult with your doctor at home and your insurance company, as well as with friends and colleagues, in order to determine which facility best serves your family’s needs. Each expatriate community has its own services available locally. The range of these services is generally proportionate to the size of the community.
Shanghai also offers a world class range of Traditional Chinese Medical Treatments (TCM) that offer an interesting alternative to Western medicine. Whilst your regular doctor may treat these treatments with disdain, many Westerners swear by their effectiveness. One of the most popular and ubiquitous services on offer is massage. Traditional Chinese massage clinics are everywhere and vary greatly in price and quality. Some will have staffs that are professionally trained while others will not. Many of these clinics will offer TCM services such as cupping and aroma therapy as well as grooming of hands and feet. With Shanghai's foreign community continuing to grow and, consequently, the growing number of foreign children living in Shanghai, the number of facilities offering medical services to foreigners has grown dramatically since 1996, and the overall quality of health care continues to improve rapidly. The international clinics such as Parkway, Global Healthcare, United Family. employ foreigners and foreign-trained health professionals, all doctors in these international clinics can speak English and healthcare is equivalent to that which you would expect in any major city.
Today, Shanghai is not only China’s financial showcase, for the locals, it offers some of the best medical services in the country. The result for expat is an availability of options for basic medical care that is constantly expanding. Medical care does not apply to special needs for language. Here, as anywhere else in the world, you have to be actively involved in your own medical care and that of your family. Visit the facilities and speak to the practitioners. Ask about emergency care, evaluation services, and any other special needs before making your decision. However, one of the great advantages of being in China is the availability of traditional Chinese medicine. Services that are considered “alternative” and uncommon in the west are widely practiced and relied upon here.
Bring copies of all medication information, making sure your doctor writes the actual medical contents and not just the brand name. Bring copies of eye prescription and hearing aids as well. Western medicine is becoming more common in Shanghai, but usually at a much higher price than in your own country, vitamins include. As for eyeglasses, there are imported lenses that sell for almost as much as you will find in your home country. Local frames resembling international name brands can be found for half of the price. Computer - generated imported hearing aids come from a numberof counties. You can also purchase local models usually for half the price. For some reason deodorants, suntan lotions and sanitary napkins etc. are not up to the usual standard, worthwhile packing a stash.
Anti-diarrhea tablets, antibiotics and any specialty medicines from home are useful. You should also take along some basic medicines, such as painkillers.
In Shanghai sometimes, your doctor may give you a prescription for you to buy drugs in drugstores. Go to one of the local drug stores and show the chemist the prescription before you get the medicine from him or her. Drugs in independent drugstores are often cheaper than those in hospital pharmacies, as they often mark up the price to earn profit.
Most kinds of medicine can be purchased over the counter in Shanghai, including many that would require a prescription in the West. Nonetheless, bring a prescription from your GP for antibiotics or more serious drugs. Chinese pharmacists may suggest Chinese medicine for your ailment. This is certainly worth a try and will not hurt you, particularly if the medication is herbal. There are pharmacies throughout the city, and many are open 24 hours. Do not count on English being spoken; prepare a Chinese translation of the chemical or pharmaceutical you need. Western hospitals have their own pharmacies that carry a much wider selection of Western medicine, but they normally require a doctor’s visit.
Many kinds of medicine can be obtained over the counter in Shanghai and prescriptions are rarely needed. Be wary of fake drugs or mislabeled products and always buy from reputable pharmacies that are government-run or associated with a hospital. Look out for bad spelling on packages and suspicious labels that appear inauthentic. Medicine will often be sold under different brand names here, so write down the chemical or pharmaceutical that you are looking for as well as the Chinese brand name.
In recent years, the government has tried to regulate over-the-counter medicines, so you should bring a prescription from your GP for antibiotics and more serious drugs. Painkillers, cough and allergy medicines, digestive remedies, skincare medication and vitamins or dietary supplements are all available over the counter.
Many of the reliable brands you may be accustomed to using don't exist in Shanghai, so stock up whenever you're backing home. If bringing prescriptions from overseas, be sure to have a medical certificate from your doctor.
Health Insurance
Health insurance is becoming a very important issue for people living in Shanghai. In 2006, more than 130 million Chinese had health insurance. While this is quite a large number, it still leaves nearly 90% of citizens without any coverage whatsoever. Only 16% of American citizens lacked health coverage in 2006. While the 10% of China's population who have health care reap the benefits of financial coverage, most health care is still vastly inferior to what is available in the West. That, accompanied with adifferent standard of medical treatment, makes China a daunting destination for some foreigners, and as such, medical insurance China has become a serious issue.
Locals and expatriates alike are concerned with the substandard options for medical treatment in China. Most of the care that is available at a reasonable cost is provided in clinics with cleanliness and training standards that most foreigners would find disconcerting. As a result, China - mainly.
Shanghai - has become a new market for international medical insurance companies. Many international residents and the expanding wealthy Chinese population have begun to opt for plans that can promise more and therefore look outside the country for insurance providers.
For foreigners living in Shanghai, the prospect of receiving care at a local hospital can be daunting. While there are hospitals designed for international clientele, the services available can cost much more than equivalent care would cost in your country of origin. This is why it is so important to be sure that you have high-quality expatriate medical insurance while you are in Shanghai; you can feel safe about the health care available while not having to worry about the cost of treatment getting too steep. With the current economic prosperity that the country is experiencing, health insurance China options are becoming more readily available.
Whether you are living or traveling in Shanghai, be sure to take measures to prevent a similar situation from happening to you. As an expatriate, it is important that you feel secure in your health care options. If you encounter some bad luck, having international insurance will mean that you can receive top quality care without the burden of astronomical costs.On one end, you can plan on seeking treatment at local hospitals. These can be very inexpensive, and will be paid out of your pocket. Expat doctors say that while local hospital care is adequate for certain health issues, it might not provide the standard of care you would expect in a Western medical establishment. Conditions vary, as does the standard of English spoken by doctors and administrators.
On the other end, you have deluxe expat worldwide insurance coverage for you and your family. They pay the rate charged at expat hospitals for Western-style medical coverage, and can provide maternity, dental and outpatient services for you and your family. This is the most desirable option for most expats. When you relocate here as part of a corporate package, you should get a clear statement of what is included in your medical coverage. Follow up by consulting your doctor, particularly if you need specialized care, and research supplementary options. Rates vary dramatically based on your personal situation and the type of insurance you need. For free quotes, you can go through an insurance broker such as International Medical Group (www.imglobal.com) or Expatriate Insurance.
Dental insurance policies are also available, often as an add-on to medical insurance policies, but they can be very expensive. Check carefully what the policy covers, particularly with regard to routine work such as examinations, X-rays and dental hygiene services.
Choosing a good international health insurance can be difficult. There are many factors that must be consider when choosing an insurance plan, especially as many people stick to the same health insurance policy for the rest of their lives.
It is therefore advisable that you understand fine print of a policy before purchasing it. Plans vary according to individual requirements therefore it is advisable to think would like your plan to provide when purchasing a policy.
Many health insurance companies for expatriates in China can help you make an educated choice of plan, and make sure the plan you choose can provide the security that you need at present as well as the future.
Every international health insurance policy can be customized according to individual needs and requirements-you may choose their own level of coverage. If medical insurance is not supplied by your employer, no one will force you to buy it. Rates vary dramatically based on your personal situation and what type of insurance plan you want to buy. For a free quote on expat packages, you can go through an insurance broker such as Bupa International or Expatriate Insurance Services. A basic insurance plan can be bought for as little as RMB 4,000 per year, but premium annual insurance can cost as much as RMB 40,000.
In the Event of A Medical Emergence
If you can safely transport the victim without causing further injury, then it is almost always a good idea to find your own fastest way of getting to the hospital, either by driving yourself or by taxi. Ambulance response times are typically slow; Shanghai traffic does not yield to emergency vehicles and they may have trouble finding you. The ambulance service can be treated by dialing 120. The operator will most likely not speak English, so it's useful to learn a couple of Chinese phrases such as where you live and the address of whichever hospital you want to go to. Ambulance workers are not required to know basic procedures like cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Before an emergency even occurs, you should work out a plan of action with your family. This includes deciding on a facility that is open 24 hours a day, calling to pre-register your details with the hospital (so you won't have to worry about paperwork during an emergency), and practicing an emergency run-through with your family where you drive to the hospital. Additionally, you can prepare an emergency folder listing all of your family's medical conditions, allergies, medications and surgical histories. Even if you primarily go to a western hospital, it's a good idea to have the folder's contents in both English and Chinese.
You also might want to make a card with the hospital's address and contact information that you and your children can keep with you at all times. This can be important in avoiding delays if the child is brought to the hospital by someone other than their parent, and the parent is not available.
Traditional Chinese Medicine
Traditional Chinese Medicine, once considered by the Western medical world as bordering on superstition, has been gaining wide acceptance in recent years. Many of its benefits, especially those of acupuncture, are now being recognized. Since the focus is preventive, you don’t have to be ill to take advantage of the vast pool of traditional Chinese medicine services available. From herbal doctors who can prescribe natural home brews to help with relaxation and detoxification, to acupuncturists who can cure back and other debilitating pains –all are available. And as treatments are largely natural and non-invasive, there is less danger in mistreatments, such as drinking the wrong herbal brew, for instance, will have less serious consequences than having surgery on the wrong organ.
However, it is always a good idea to check with your doctor whenever taking any alternative remedies, blood pressure, for example, may be affected because some herbal brews are known for making the blood "stronger". Be aware too that herb quality and purity vary so your neighbor’s uncle’s herbal connection, while cheaper, may not be as good as those from the Chinese Medicine Hospital.
If Traditional Chinese Medicine seems so alien to the Western world it is because it embodies a completely different frame of reference and approach to health and disease. For example, if one has a medical complaint, a Western doctor will start with the symptom and then search for the cause. The Western doctor narrows down the potential causes until he isolates the final agent, which is then controlled or destroyed, The same symptoms, to a traditional Chinese medical doctor, are but one characteristic of the patient’s entire physiological and psychological state.
Culled from thousands of years of observation of both humans and nature, the Chinese medical system is based on the belief that the very fabric of existence is made up of opposing forces-the yin and yang. Where there is light, there is dark; if there is cold, there is heat, and so on. Within this system of thinking, nothing can be isolated: all things are interconnected and affect each other.The Chinese Medicine doctor will try to find the relationship between the symptom and the patient, identifying the "pattern of disharmony". Treatment in the Western sense is intervention based and immediate; in the Chinese sense, it is restorative and requires time for rebalancing. In Western thinking, one looks for the causes of the effect, in Chinese thinking one looks for the relationship between the two.
To be healthy is to have harmony of all these factors in the totality of the person. Tobe ill is to experience the disharmony of such forces; Health is achieved by restoring balance. This observation goes beyond the physical well being of the individual. It also includes the person’s environment and their emotional state.
Acupuncture
This one practice of traditional Chinese medicine has received the most attention in the West. Acupuncture is based on the understanding of meridians – invisible pathways-that are also called "energy centers" or "channels". These are the paths by which the body’s fundamental substances are circulated, nourishing and maintaining the health of the person. An imbalance or disrupted flow through these pathways will result in some discomfort or illness in the body. This network connects the external to the internal. Affecting certain points on the surface of the body will then affect the interior.
It follows that blockage or imbalance of any of the body’s functions can be relieved or rebalanced through acting on points on the body’s surface. In acupuncture, thin needles are inserted just deep enough to pierce the skin and manipulated at more than 360 points. (Be sure that disposable needles are used.) State–of–the–art techniques involve sending an electrical current through the needles. These days, lasers are also used.
In China, one important use of acupuncture is in surgical analgesia, Chinese surgeons use it wisely, relieving the need to use an anesthetic, which leaves the patient, disoriented and sometimes interferes with the recovery process. Chinese doctors also use it to treat heart disease, ulcers, high blood pressure, appendicitis, and asthma, and many other illnesses. In 1980, the World Health Organization released a list of 43 types of illnesses that can be effectively treated with acupuncture. In 1998 a National Institute of Health panel reported that acupuncture can relief nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy and surgical anesthesia.
Working along the same concept but using pressure instead of needless, acupressure, results in a similar pain-alleviating effect. Since this is done with the fingertips, elbows, or sometimes knees, many people think of it as a massage. Trained practitioners give these in a hospital or clinic. This should not be confused with local massage centers where non-medically trained staff has the appearance of acupressure massage just by exerting an inordinate amount of force.
Herbal Medicine
Doctors prescribe herbs for a similar reaction. Each herb or mixture of their properties is infused into the meridian pathways, creating the same rebalancing effect. These herbal concoctions are not known for their flavor but rather for both the long brewing process and the need to keep taking them over a long period of time.
Health Check-Ups
Regular medical checkups are offered by all the major hospitals and clinics. Well-woman and will-man checkups are provided by some hospitals and clinics under the guise of 'health screening' services. Most of expat hospitals offer comprehensive check-up that requires two sessions to complete. The first session involves diagnostic evaluations that include an eye screening, x-ray, ECG, ultrasound, stress test, blood drawing and urine collection. The second session concludes with a physical evaluation by a health screening doctor, and a review of test results, as well as lifestyle counseling.
Private Healthcare
Private hospitals tend to be smaller, with friendly service and specialized equipment. Hospital bills at a private institution will generally be much heftier that a public hospital's and can add up to as much as a hospital fee in a western country. You may find yourself paying tens of thousands of yuan for a week's worth of tests and medication, even if you condition is not that serious, compared with RMB 1000 at a public hospital for similar treatment. A regular check-up costs around RMB 500, but will usually total RMB 1000 or more when basic medicine is provided.
Hospitals For Expats
The city has dozens of hospitals, clinics and dentists established for foreigners. Some of them are a part of local hospitals. The list below is from Shanghai Foreign Investment Development Board, which includes a small proportion of all those clinics. You will also get a name list from your consulate-general to the city or offered by your insurance company, which may designate several local hospitals as your insurance-covered spots.
Some of them can offer a full range of medical services, such as surgical operation, medical check and in-patient service, while others, such as some small clinics, may give you a diagnosis on some slight symptoms.
If you want to see a doctor, you may choose one of them by making appointment through telephone or the website. Besides the hospitals, dentists are also available for foreigners. You need to make sure whether your insurance will cover the charge or you just pay the bill yourself before go to the dentists, most of which are joint ventures.
Shanghai has a reputation for having the best medical facilities in all of mainland China, and expats should have no worries in finding quality healthcare when needed Western-style clinics and hospitals have been especially set up to serve the ever-expanding expat population. Facilities at these institutions are improving every year, and some include 24 hour care and accident and emergency departments with trained international staff at hand.
A good number of public hospitals have set up VIP clinics, which cater specifically to expats. Foreigners are technically required to go to either a western-operated clinic orone of these VIP clinics, although some expats go to their local neighborhood hospital. VIP perks include English-speaking staff, a nurse that will escort you around the hospital, and no waiting.
Attending a public hospital means you will have to pay a registration fee before treatment; this can cost RMB 10 to 15 for local hospitals and roughly RMB 100 for VIP clinics. VIP sections vary - some will charge fees comparable to local services, but some will charge five times this amount.
If you're looking for a warm and inviting attitude from a doctor you should probably refer to the list of internationally focused western hospitals and clinics, where the doctors will be trained to provide the bedside manner you expect. Otherwise, Shanghai's medical services do not emphasize human relations, and you might find staff to be unfriendly, blunt or uncommunicative.
A reliable general practitioner (GP) can be good for annual check-ups and can serve as a reference whenever you have a health-related concern. When looking for the right doctor for you and your family, it's best to listen to the recommendations of your friends and colleagues.
Before you come to China, you're advised to get the following immunizations up to date: hepatitis A and B, tetanus, polio and typhoid. If you are considering venturing to more rural areas, you should look into getting a rabies vaccination and the series of Japanese encephalitis shots. Travelers from South America, central Africa and other vulnerable areas are required to provide a yellow fever vaccination certificate upon arrival into China. Be sure to consult your physician before you get the vaccinations; women who are pregnant or breastfeeding are advised not to receive any of the above immunizations.More and more international hospitals opening in shanghai since 1990’s. These hospitals provide various kinds of professional medical health care such as Dentistry, Gynecology and Pediatric services particularly focus on family medicine services, Hence, covering the needs of all ages and genders. They are facilitated with other international centers both within China and across the world, and their team of staff also reflects this. To ensure such standards, almost the entire employee has had English training and earned experience in international hospitals or similar medical institutions. The hospital provides 24 hour consultation services for both Chinese and English speaking patients. Here is a list of the local hospitals and clinics that offer healthcare services to foreigners.