Chinese Public Hospitals: Standard, Special-Needs and International Care

The three levels of service

This guide explains three levels of care at public hospitals: standard service, special-needs service and the international medical department.

Standard service

Standard service is the usual care for patients in China. In Chinese, a standard clinic is 普通门诊. A standard ward is 普通病房. National rules say public hospitals charge government-guided prices for basic medical services. For these prices, the government sets the rules, not the hospital alone.

Special-needs service

Special-needs service is extra care for patients who ask for more. In Chinese, a special-needs clinic is 特需门诊. A special-needs ward is 特需病房.

The National Health Commission describes it in its 2025 manual for reviewing large public hospitals. Doctors, nurses or technicians with a senior title give the care. That means an associate chief or higher. The hospital files the price with the authorities, and the price is higher than the standard price for staff at the same level.

Since 2021, each public hospital sets its own special-needs prices and files them with the price authority. The prices must still follow government price rules and suit the hospital's level. Each province decides which services may use prices set by the hospital.

International medical department

Some public hospitals run an international medical department. Its Chinese name is 国际医疗部.

We found no national rule that defines this department. National rules do not say how it sets prices. They also do not say whether it counts as special-needs service. To find a hospital with an international department, use our table, which links to each hospital's own notice.

Price, doctor appointments, language help and insurance

Swipe the table sideways to see all columns.

Doctor appointments

A 2022 national rule covers outpatient clinics at hospitals of grade two and above. It names the special-needs clinic as one of the clinic systems a hospital must run.

The rule asks hospitals to offer timed appointments. Patients should be able to book online, at machines, in the clinic or at a counter. Hospitals should try to see each patient within 30 minutes of arrival.

We found no separate national waiting rule for special-needs clinics or international departments.

Language help

The same rule asks hospitals to have guides for outpatients. A hospital needs at least one guide or smart guide machine for every 500 daily outpatient visits. The rule does not mention foreign languages.

We found no national rule on language help at any of the three levels. Please ask the hospital before you go.

The 10% rule

National rules limit how much special-needs care a public hospital may offer. In 2015, the General Office of the State Council said special-needs services can be no more than 10% of all medical services. It said the same again in 2017.

A 2021 national price plan uses the same 10% limit for all services with prices set by the hospital. These include special-needs services.

The rule limits the share of special-needs services. It does not limit their price. The National Healthcare Security Administration said the limit protects standard care as the main work of public hospitals.

Paying and insurance

A 2009 national health reform plan says who pays for special-needs care. The patient pays directly, or commercial health insurance pays. The plan does not name public insurance as a payer for this care.

For standard care, the same plan says the government, society and the patient share the cost.

If you have international health insurance, ask your insurer before you travel. Some insurers pay hospitals in China directly. Our table of direct billing by insurer shows which insurers say they do.

Which one should I use?

Standard service may suit you if a government-guided price matters most.

Special-needs service may suit you if you want care from senior staff. You will pay a higher price yourself or through private insurance.

An international medical department may suit you if the hospital publishes services for patients from abroad. Check what it offers first, because no national rule sets its services or prices.

For any level, check the current price in the hospital's own mini-program before you book.

What changed recently

In August 2021, a national price plan said hospitals set special-needs prices themselves and file them. In June 2022, a national rule on outpatient quality asked hospitals to cut waiting times. In June 2025, the National Health Commission described special-needs care in its manual for reviewing large public hospitals.

We found no newer national rule on special-needs service or international departments.

Before you book, you may need a visa, so read our guide to medical visas for China. For deposits, cards and receipts, see our guide to paying at Chinese hospitals. If you need language help, read our guide to medical interpreters. To learn what Class 3A means and how hospitals in China are graded, read our guide to how Chinese hospitals are graded.