Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Doctor-patient relationships are another point of difference. Chinese patients typically
accept the diagnosis that their almighty doctor decrees to be their problem and obediently
leave with their basket load of prescribed medications. Practitioners here are not accus-
tomed to two-way conversations where a patient might question a prognosis, so don't ex-
pect them to be up for a good probing chat. If you do have questions, don't be afraid to
ask—you just might need to be persistent in trying to extract each and every detail.
Unfortunately the local medical system has also become enmeshed with a culture of
“gift-giving.” To have a chance at getting a good doctor, or at least one that appears at your
bedside within a reasonable time frame, or to be bumped to the front of a long list of people
waiting for a given test, gifts have become a necessary evil for many locals. Head nurses,
physicians, people in position to grease a wheel or two, all are potential recipients of hand-
some gifts. Cash is too direct and can be frowned up, but an RMB1,000 voucher for a super-
market or a day spa goes down a treat, and perfume, alcohol, or even expensive cigarettes
can advance one's number in the system. Unfairly for the locals, foreigners aren't always
expected to take part in this process, and they may get preferential treatment simply because
they are foreigners and carry a greater risk of face loss for the hospital should something go
awry. If you do, however, find things going a little slowly, it might be something to keep in
mind—just don't do it in front of anybody else; no one likes to be seen accepting non-birth-
day presents.
The Process
The be-all and end-all of the Chinese medical system is the registration process, the
guàhào.
Unfortunately, given that Beijing has the country's best hospitals and that adequate medical
care is sorely lacking in almost every other city or province, millions of people are drawn
to Beijing simply for health reasons. So on top of the general systemic problems, Beijing
hospitals are under enormous strain as thousands of people heave through their corridors on
a daily basis. There is no appointment process, so you need to get to the hospital as early as
possible to take a number, just like lining up at a deli. Most hospitals open for registration at
around 7:30am and close at 4:30pm, but it's gotten to the point that people will start lining
up as early as 5am or, in some extremes, camp overnight, just to get a ticket. People have
even begun to scalp registration numbers to make a buck. Using the VIP or international
section should allow you to bypass this nightmare.
You must take your passport when you go to the hospital and, if you have one, your
Chinese social insurance card. It's also best to carry some cash. Most Chinese hospitals will
not accept international medical insurance, but some, such as Peking Union Medical Col-
