Before coming to China I worried about going to the doctor's. The obvious reason being the lack of language. If not for my employer, I would have had to rely on my OT to translate for me but how would he get time off work to accompany in the first place? No clue as it seems pretty difficult bordering on impossible over here. Fortunately, as any legally employed foreigner in China, I have medical insurance.
My insurer is a world-wide known company (I specifically avoided giving away the name in case you thought I was sponsored), which covers most basic health issues and even some minor treatments.
How does it work? The insurer makes a deal with certain hospitals/clinics and you can choose whichever one you prefer. So far, I've visited the doctor three times, all in the same clinic as I'm very happy with the service I've received.
The staff are polite, the doctors kind and, most importantly, the treatment has worked!
The clinics, which foreigners can use (and sometimes their family members)are VERY different from the average Chinese hospital. I have been to an ordinary hospital a few times now and feel extremely grateful that I don't have to go there on my own account (my OH isn't so lucky).
It's not that Chinese hospitals are so horrendous-it's just that the way they are run leaves a lot to be desired. Fist of all, one must know that there is no registration of patients here-one can go to whichever hospital one wishes and doesn't have to stick to that particular one. As soon as you walk in, the nurse takes your temperature (not sure how relevant that is if you're coming with a stomach pain)and then you wait. And wait. And wait some more regardless of the time of day or what day it is. When you eventually get called to go over to the doctor's room, you'll find you're not the only one! There's usually a small crowd of patients, each wanting to be seen before the other. Now this would be unthinkable in UK or Poland(I have only experienced medical care in those two countries, other than China): the doctor's room's door is open and remains open throughout every appointment!Which means everyone can easily hear what your issue is, no point trying to speak quietly as then the medic won't hear you.
No privacy whatsoever.
Before you even get to sit down with the doctor, you're likely to have your file moved under other files by another patient who(as usual in China)is clearly in a rush and assumes that their case is more urgent.
I don't know about you, but I like to be seen on time, by my doctor ONLY. No need for an audience.
Once you've managed to explain to the dear doctor what your problem is, you're bound to be sent to get a drip. The drip holds an unprecedented position in Chinese hospitals; a little bit like porridge it seems to be prescribed for everything. So your next few hours(minimum 2) are spent sitting in a gloom room connected to a drip with a substance of unknown origin.
Depending on your issue, the nurse may take your blood and more often than not, you must wait right there in the hospital for the results.
So we're about 4 hours in, you finally get your results and either: a) you're fine, the tests didn't show anything and you've just wasted a few hours of your life or b) the tests did show something and you either go back to the doctor to discuss them and spend a few more hours at the hospital or you are given medicine (not for free of course, I'm not sure if there are free/refundable medicines in China)and may finally walk away.
I know all this from personal experience (on both occasions the visits took a better part of a night)and from stories told by my Chinese colleagues.
Thank God for medical insurance. No cost (in basic cases), no hassle, no crowds, and no excruciating waiting.
P.S. This photo was taken when I accompanied my OH, who was collecting his blood results recently. Note the sign on the glass window:)
How does it work? The insurer makes a deal with certain hospitals/clinics and you can choose whichever one you prefer. So far, I've visited the doctor three times, all in the same clinic as I'm very happy with the service I've received.
The staff are polite, the doctors kind and, most importantly, the treatment has worked!
The clinics, which foreigners can use (and sometimes their family members)are VERY different from the average Chinese hospital. I have been to an ordinary hospital a few times now and feel extremely grateful that I don't have to go there on my own account (my OH isn't so lucky).
It's not that Chinese hospitals are so horrendous-it's just that the way they are run leaves a lot to be desired. Fist of all, one must know that there is no registration of patients here-one can go to whichever hospital one wishes and doesn't have to stick to that particular one. As soon as you walk in, the nurse takes your temperature (not sure how relevant that is if you're coming with a stomach pain)and then you wait. And wait. And wait some more regardless of the time of day or what day it is. When you eventually get called to go over to the doctor's room, you'll find you're not the only one! There's usually a small crowd of patients, each wanting to be seen before the other. Now this would be unthinkable in UK or Poland(I have only experienced medical care in those two countries, other than China): the doctor's room's door is open and remains open throughout every appointment!Which means everyone can easily hear what your issue is, no point trying to speak quietly as then the medic won't hear you.
No privacy whatsoever.
Before you even get to sit down with the doctor, you're likely to have your file moved under other files by another patient who(as usual in China)is clearly in a rush and assumes that their case is more urgent.
I don't know about you, but I like to be seen on time, by my doctor ONLY. No need for an audience.
Once you've managed to explain to the dear doctor what your problem is, you're bound to be sent to get a drip. The drip holds an unprecedented position in Chinese hospitals; a little bit like porridge it seems to be prescribed for everything. So your next few hours(minimum 2) are spent sitting in a gloom room connected to a drip with a substance of unknown origin.
Depending on your issue, the nurse may take your blood and more often than not, you must wait right there in the hospital for the results.
So we're about 4 hours in, you finally get your results and either: a) you're fine, the tests didn't show anything and you've just wasted a few hours of your life or b) the tests did show something and you either go back to the doctor to discuss them and spend a few more hours at the hospital or you are given medicine (not for free of course, I'm not sure if there are free/refundable medicines in China)and may finally walk away.
I know all this from personal experience (on both occasions the visits took a better part of a night)and from stories told by my Chinese colleagues.
Thank God for medical insurance. No cost (in basic cases), no hassle, no crowds, and no excruciating waiting.
P.S. This photo was taken when I accompanied my OH, who was collecting his blood results recently. Note the sign on the glass window:)