Shanghai Healthcare: Hospitals, Costs, and Emergencies

Shanghai has good hospitals and a growing network of international clinics, but the system works differently from home. You usually pay first and claim insurance later, English is not universal, and a public hospital can be crowded even when the care is excellent.

This guide explains what to do in an emergency, which hospitals are set up for foreign patients, how payment and insurance work, and what to carry so a medical problem does not derail your trip.

The short version

• Life-threatening emergency: call 120 for an ambulance, or get to the nearest hospital emergency department immediately.
• Urgent but stable problem: use an international hospital or clinic with English-speaking staff.
• Routine or follow-up care: an international clinic is easier; a public hospital's international department is usually less expensive but busier.
• Payment: expect to pay upfront unless your insurer has direct billing with that hospital. Keep every receipt.
• Language: international hospitals generally have English-speaking staff. Public hospitals may not, even in an international department.
• Preparation: carry your passport, insurance details, medication list, and allergies in writing.

Do not delay emergency care to sort out insurance. The city's emergency guidance is explicit: seek help first.

In an emergency

Call 120

Dial 120 for an ambulance in Shanghai. The service is operated by the Shanghai Emergency Medical Center. Operators speak Chinese, though they can connect you to a third-party translator; this can cause delays.

When you call, be ready to give:

• your name and phone number;
• your exact location, with a landmark or hotel name;
• what happened and whether the person is conscious;
• the person's age and any known conditions;
• where you want to go, if you have a preference.

The ambulance service has a 30 yuan base charge, plus 7 yuan per kilometre after the first three kilometres. There is an 80 yuan hourly waiting fee and a 60 yuan pre-hospital emergency care charge. The total is typically under 300 yuan unless the distance is exceptional.

In a critical case, you will be taken to the nearest suitable hospital, usually within 3–5 kilometres. If the situation is not immediately life-threatening, you can usually ask to be taken to a specific hospital.

Other emergency numbers

• Police: 110
• Fire and rescue: 119
• Ambulance: 120
• Shanghai United Family Hospital emergency hotline: 021-2216-3999 (24/7)

The United Family emergency department is at No 1139 Xianxia Road, Changning District and operates 24 hours a day.

If you are at a hotel, ask the front desk to call 120 and to send someone to meet the ambulance. If you are alone, unlock your phone and show your hotel address or map pin to the responders.

International hospitals and clinics

These hospitals are set up for foreign patients, with English-speaking staff and international payment systems. They are more expensive than public hospitals, but easier to navigate.

Shanghai United Family Hospital

• Area: Changning District.
• Address: No 1139 Xianxia Road.
• Emergency: 24/7, including paediatrics and obstetrics.
• Phone: 021-2216-3999.
• Best for: families, emergencies, and English-first care.

Shanghai SinoUnited Hospital

• Area: Huangpu District, near the Bund and Nanjing Road.
• Address: No 350 Middle Jiangxi Road.
• Hours: 24-hour medical and inpatient services; outpatient daily 08:00–18:00.
• Phone: 400-186-2116.
• Email: internationalcare@suh.cn
• Best for: a central location near the Bund and People's Square.

Shanghai Jiahui International Hospital

• Area: Xuhui District.
• Address: No 689 Guiping Road.
• Emergency: 24-hour medical services.
• Languages: English, Korean, Japanese, Arabic, German, Spanish, and Russian, among others.
• Email: info@jiahui.com
• Best for: families and multilingual care.

Shanghai East International Medical Center

• Area: Pudong New Area.
• Address: No 551 South Pudong Road.
• Hours: outpatient 09:00–17:00 daily; emergency and inpatient care 24 hours year-round.
• Phone: 021-5879-9999 or 150-0019-0899.
• Languages: English, French, German, Japanese, Spanish, Russian, and Hindi.
• Best for: Pudong hotels, including the Lujiazui area, and psychiatric care.

Raffles Hospital Shanghai

• Area: Pudong New Area.
• Address: No 200 Yuanzhao Road.
• Hours: outpatient Monday–Saturday 08:30–17:30; emergency and inpatient care 24 hours.
• Email: sh_businesscentre@rafflesmedical.com
• Best for: Pudong hotels and international insurance.

These hospitals list direct-billing arrangements with many insurers, but the list changes. Call the hospital and your insurer before non-emergency treatment to confirm that your policy is accepted.

Public hospitals and international departments

Shanghai's major public hospitals are excellent, and several have international or VIP departments for foreign patients. Huashan, Ruijin, Zhongshan, and Huadong are among the names you may hear.

What to expect:

• Lower fees than private international hospitals, but still paid care.
• More crowded conditions and less English support.
• Appointments are usually necessary for specialist care; walk-in services vary.
• Bring your passport and your insurance information.
• Ask for an English summary and receipts for your insurer.

The city has been expanding international medical services, including multilingual support, appointment systems, and insurance direct billing. That does not mean every public hospital is easy to navigate without Mandarin. For a non-emergency, an international clinic is often the simpler choice.

Costs, insurance, and payment

Shanghai does not provide free healthcare to foreign visitors. Whether you are treated at a public hospital or a private clinic, you should expect to pay.

• International hospitals usually accept international credit cards, Alipay, WeChat Pay, and cash. They are used to billing insurers.
• Public hospitals may require a Chinese payment method or a local registration process. Bring a card and cash, and ask the international department for help.
• Direct billing means the hospital bills your insurer directly. It is not automatic; confirm both sides before treatment.
• Reimbursement means you pay and claim later. Keep the itemised bill, medical report, prescription, and payment receipt.

Travel insurance is worth arranging before you go. Look for:

• emergency medical treatment and hospitalisation;
• medical evacuation and repatriation;
• direct billing with hospitals in Shanghai, if possible;
• cover for pre-existing conditions, if relevant;
• a 24-hour assistance line you can call from China.

Call your insurer's assistance line before non-emergency treatment if you can. In an emergency, get treated first and call afterwards.

Pharmacies, prescriptions, and common problems

• Pharmacies are common, but staff may not speak English. Bring the Chinese name of your medication or a translation card.
• Prescriptions from home are not automatically accepted. Some medicines are controlled or unavailable; ask a doctor at an international clinic.
• Bring medications in their original packaging, with a doctor's letter and a list of doses. Keep them in your carry-on.
• Mental health care is available at international clinics and hospitals such as East International, which lists psychiatry and psychology. Book ahead for non-emergency appointments.
• Dental care is best arranged through an international clinic or a hotel recommendation; do not wait for a dental problem to become an emergency.

For common minor illnesses, an international clinic can advise you. Do not ask hotel staff or pharmacists for a diagnosis, and do not take unused antibiotics from home.

What to carry

• Passport.
• Insurance policy number and assistance hotline.
• A written medication list, including doses and allergies.
• A doctor's letter for any controlled or injectable medication.
• A payment card, plus Alipay or WeChat Pay set up.
• Your hotel's name and address in Chinese.
• A phone charger and a power bank.

The bottom line

In an emergency, call 120 or go to the nearest emergency department; do not wait for insurance approval. For everything else, international hospitals are easier, public hospital international departments are cheaper but busier, and travel insurance is the difference between a manageable bill and a very large one. Carry your passport, medication list, and insurance details, and ask for English receipts.

Hospital hours, phone numbers, insurance networks, and fees change. Confirm with the official sources below before you rely on them.