Most people who consider treatment in China do not need a guide to Chinese culture. They need a clear sequence: what to send, who decides, what it costs and when money is involved. This is that sequence.
1. Send your records, not a question
The single biggest delay in medical travel is a vague enquiry. 'How much is a knee replacement?' cannot be answered responsibly — the price depends on implant tier, bone quality, whether you need a revision, your weight, your comorbidities and the ward type. What can be answered is your case.
Send the recent imaging (DICOM files if you have them), the radiology report, any relevant bloodwork, your medication list and a two-paragraph history. If you have seen a specialist, include their note. With that, a hospital can produce something useful within days. Without it, everyone guesses.
2. We shortlist hospitals and ask for a written plan
Shortlisting is not a ranking exercise. A hospital with the best national reputation for a disease may be the wrong choice for a straightforward procedure, because you will wait longer and pay more for capacity you do not need. We match on three things: case volume for your specific problem, access speed, and whether the department routinely serves international patients.
We then request a written plan in English: proposed treatment, implant or device brand if relevant, expected length of stay, total cost range, and the follow-up schedule. A hospital that will not put this in writing before you commit is a hospital to avoid.
3. You get an indicative range before you book anything
Prices on this site are indicative public ranges. The number that matters is the one in the written plan for your case. Treat any quote that arrives without your records as marketing, not pricing.
What our service costs right now
Nothing. Enquiries, records review and written plans are free at this stage, and we do not take payment details. If that changes, it will be stated on the service before you proceed — not discovered later on an invoice.
4. Confirm the logistics before paying a deposit
- Passport validity of at least six months, and the correct visa category for your purpose of travel
- A hospital appointment confirmation with a date, department and named physician
- Accommodation within reasonable travel time of the hospital, not just the city centre
- An interpreter booked for consultation days, if the department does not provide one
- A payment plan: what is paid on admission, what is paid at discharge, and which cards are accepted
5. Arrive, get assessed, then treat
Expect a repeat assessment on arrival. Chinese hospitals re-image and re-test before major procedures, and this is appropriate rather than redundant. It occasionally changes the plan — a scan looks different from the one taken at home, or a comorbidity needs managing first. Build two or three buffer days into your itinerary for this.
6. Discharge documentation is the part to insist on
Before you leave, you should hold: the operative note, implant or device details, discharge medications with doses, imaging on disc, a written follow-up schedule and an English summary. Your physician at home needs these, and reconstructing them after you have flown is difficult. We treat this as a deliverable, not a courtesy.
7. Plan the return, and the follow-up
The most common planning error is booking a return flight too early. A knee replacement needs supervised early rehabilitation; a bypass needs three to four weeks before flying; dental implants need a second visit after healing. Ask what the surgeon wants to see before you fly, and book around that review.
The honest limits
China is excellent for high-volume elective surgery, advanced imaging and dental work. It is not the right choice for every case, and we will tell you when it is not — including when the better answer is to treat at home.