Several facilities specialize in serving the international community of expatriates and travelers. Others are Chinese hospitals which have wings to serve the foreign community. A variety of languages, from English to Farsi, are spoken at these facilities. Some even offer 24-hour care.
International Medical Clinics Cater to Foreigners
The clinics are usually one-stop medical care for patients, and offer everything from physician services to diagnostic imaging and pharmacy services to dental care. Many facilities employ physicians from other countries who not only are approved physicians in their home countries but have undergone examinations to meet Chinese standards of professional health care.
The facilities also serve Chinese citizens who prefer Western medical care.
The U.S. Embassy in Beijing maintains a list of medical facilities with English-speaking staff throughout China on its website. In a disclaimer, the embassy says it is not responsible for the professional ability of the facilities.
International Health Facilities
Here are some facilities which cater to foreigners in Beijing:
- International Medical Center: Located behind Lufthansa Center and the Kempinski Hotel on Third Ring Road; phone (010) 6465-1561/2/3, 24 hours. It is one of the oldest clinics serving foreigners in Beijing.
- Beijing United Family Hospital: Located at 2 Jiang Tai Lu, Chao Yang District, Beijing 100016; phone (010) 6433-3960/1/2/4/5. Opened in 1997 by an American company, it has a 24-hour emergency room staffed by expat specialists.
- Vista Clinic: Located in the Kerry Center Shopping Mall near the World Trade Center; phone (010) 8529-6618. It opened in 2001 and also provides dental care.
- Sino-Japanese Friendship Hospital: Located on HePingLi between Third and Fourth Ring roads; phone (010) 6422-2965; 6422.1122. This is one of Beijing’s major hospitals.
- Bayley and Jackson Medical Center: Located at 7 Ritan Dong Lu near Ritan Park in the Sanlitun embassy district; phone (010) 8562-9998. It was founded in 1958 to provide dental care, but has since expanded into such practices as obstetrics, pediatrics and optometry.
Many of the clinics accept international health insurances, but will help travelers with the necessary paperwork if they don’t.
Emergency Evacuations for the Seriously Ill
At least two facilities in Beijing provide emergency evacuations for travelers who are seriously ill or who have sustained serious injuries.
- International SOS: Located at Building C, BITIC Leasing Center, 1 N. Road, Xing Fu San Cun; phone (010) 6462-9112, (010) 6462-9100 emergency hotline. In addition to providing evacuations for medical purposes, SOS offers an out patient clinic offering comprehensive services.
- MEDEX Assistance Corporation: Office located in the Poly Plaza on Second Ring Road; phone (010) 6595-8510. MEDEX is a global company which offers travelers health insurance which includes medical evacuations in emergencies.
Travelers headed to Beijing or any foreign destination may wish to take along an emergency first aid kit to handle simple emergencies. The U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention has recommendations for what it should contain.
Cheryl Probst - Cheryl Probst is an award-winning photojournalist who specializes in writing about motorcycles, China and the Pacific Northwest.
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