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In general, medical staff are plentiful. Most Chinese doctors and nurses do not speak English, even in large cities. However, they are used to improvising communication and will do their best to make themselves understood. There are also facilities dedicated to foreigners as well as modern gaogan bingfang departments in hospitals.

In most cases, you will visit a clinic or hospital when you have an issue. If you need a house visit by a doctor, you may contact the relevant hospital and request the hospital to arrange for it.

The Health care System

The Ministry of Health of the State Council oversees the health services system, which includes a substantial rural collective sector but little private sector. Nearly all the major medical facilities are run by the government.

Despite the introduction of western style medical facilities and continuing modernization, the PRC has several public health problems. These are complicated by problems with pollution, a progressing HIV-AIDS epidemic, hepatitis B endemic, millions of cigarette smokers, and increasing obesity. There have also been well-publicized outbreaks of avian flu and streptococcus suis bacteria.

Health Certificate

In order to get a Residence Permit, all foreigners must apply for a Health Certificate at a government-appointed Health Check Center. The physical examination includes a general check-up, blood pressure and pulse reading, height and weight measurements, ICG, chest X-ray and AIDS and syphilis tests. It usually takes seven working days to process the Health Certificate.

The required documents are:
• Passport
• 4 recent passport photos
• Completed Health Certificate Application Form
• Copy of your employer’s Business Registration Certificate