Health Requirements

 Every foreign worker in China must have a valid medical certificate. 
 This certificate is issued every year in China after a thorough
 examination at a local hospital.  A contract will be terminated if the
 condition of the worker not satisfactory.

 Teaching contracts will include a basic measure of health cover, using
 either the schools' in-house medical clinic or the public system.

 Medical Facilities

 Western style medical facilities (including specialists, and dentists)
 often with international staff are readily available.  Many hospitals have
 so-called VIP wards (gaogan bingfang 高干病房).  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 overseas medical insurance. 
 Travellers will be asked to post a deposit prior to admission to cover
 the expected cost of treatment.  Many hospitals accept credit cards for
 payment.  Even in the VIP/Foreigner wards of major hospitals, however,
 foreign patients have frequently encountered difficulty due to cultural
 and regulatory differences.  In contrast though the staff are generally
 efficient, caring and courteous.

 Physicians and hospitals have sometimes refused to supply foreign
 patients with complete copies of their Chinese hospital medical records,
 including laboratory test results, scans, and x-rays.  All foreigners
 travelling to China are strongly encouraged to buy foreign medical care
 and medical evacuation insurance prior to arrival. 

 Ambulances do not carry sophisticated medical equipment, and
 ambulance personnel generally have little or no medical training. 
 Therefore, injured or seriously ill foreigners 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.  Medical
 personnel in rural areas are often poorly trained, have little medical
 equipment or availability to 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 several Chinese cities including the Grand Metro Hotel (formerly the Hilton) in Nanjing.  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.

 Australian firm, 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 (61-8) 92263088 or on the Internet at
 www.eglobaldoctor.com.

 Heathrow Air Ambulance is an air evacuation service with offices in the
 United States and England.  Travellers can pre-arrange air evacuation
 insurance and other emergency travel assistance.  This service also has
 a business plan to assist foreigners who lack travel insurance.
 Heathrow Air Ambulance Service, 15554 FM, Suite 195 Houston, TX.
 77095-2704.  Office telephone 1-800-513-5192. Office fax 1-281-550-9763.
 E-mail: bigbandaid1@yahoo.com.

 Medical Insurance

 Foreigners are strongly advised not to travel to China without both
 health insurance and medical evacuation insurance (often included in
 so-called "travel" insurance and provided as part of a tour group
 package).   Medicare/Medicaid programs do not provide coverage for
 medical services outside your home country.

 Even when insurance does cover services received in China, it will
 usually be necessary to pay first and then file for reimbursement with
 the insurance company upon returning to the United States. 
 Supplementary insurance with specific overseas coverage, including
 provision for medical evacuation, is strongly recommended and can be
 purchased in your home country prior to travel. 

 Please check with your own insurance company to confirm whether
 your policy applies overseas, and if it includes a provision for medical
 evacuation.

 Recent medical evacuations by air ambulance from China to nearby
 areas have cost over US $30,000.