China
Medical treatment in China: published prices for visitors
Prices checked 26 October 2026 (Taipei time)
Short answer
Public hospital prices are set by the government and are very low; international departments and private hospitals charge much more but work in English.
- Procedures with a price
- 2 of 5
- Cities
- Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou and Shenzhen
- Currency
- CNY
- Language
- Mandarin; English is reliable only in international departments and private hospitals.
- NHS / HSE schemes
- Not covered
Prices in China by procedure
Each range covers only prices that match the procedure's unit (for example one MRI area, or one eye). Open a procedure for every line and what it includes.
| Procedure | Providers | In GBP | In USD | UK private, for comparison |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MRI scan in China | Grade 3 public hospitals (official maximum), Public hospitals (official maximum) and Shanghai International Medical Center (private) | about £48 to £393 | about $64 to $525 | about £249 to £380 |
| Colonoscopy in China | Public hospitals (official maximum) | about £48 | about $64 | about £1,890 to £3,510 |
Not listed: health check-ups, cataract operations, laser eye operations, dental implants, veneers, hair transplants, hip replacements, knee replacements and IVF cycles. We did not find a published price in China that we could verify.
The low prices are official maximums for the ordinary service of public hospitals, where few staff speak English. International departments and private hospitals cost far more: Shanghai International Medical Center lists ¥3,500 for an MRI of one site against the city's public cap of ¥430 (SIMC, Shanghai notice).
Entry. China's Foreign Ministry announced visa-free stays of up to 30 days for holders of ordinary British and Canadian passports from 17 February 2026 (MFA, in Chinese); the Chinese embassy in Canada lists Canada, the UK and Ireland among the unilateral visa-free countries until 31 December 2026 (embassy page, in Chinese). The 240-hour transit visa-free scheme now covers 57 countries and needs a confirmed onward ticket to a third country (Xinhua). We did not find an official page confirming visa-free entry for US citizens. Rules change: check before you book.
Add your flight and hotel
Pick where you live and add a flight to China to see the whole trip next to your wait at home.
Entry rules
We link to the official advice rather than restating it, because entry rules change. Check the page for your passport before you book:
- UK citizens (FCDO entry requirements)
- Canadian citizens (travel.gc.ca)
- US citizens (State Department, choose the country)
- Irish citizens (DFA travel advice, choose the country)
Can you claim the cost back?
NHS and HSE schemes do not reach China. The NHS S2 route covers state treatment in the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein, and the HSE schemes cover the EU, EEA, the UK and Switzerland. Treatment in China is paid by you or by a private insurer who agrees in advance. NHS S2 route, HSE Treatment Abroad Scheme.
Planning a medical trip to China
- Ask each clinic for a written, itemised quote and the appointment in writing before booking flights.
- Check that your travel insurance covers planned medical treatment; many policies exclude it.
- Ask for reports in English and images in a format your doctor at home can open. See how to bring your results home.
- Know who to contact if you have a problem after you fly home, and tell your own doctor before you go.
Other countries
All 8 countries we compare, or start from a procedure: MRI scans, colonoscopies, health check-ups, cataract operations, laser eye operations, dental implants, veneers, hair transplants, hip replacements, knee replacements, IVF cycles.
Treatment in China: questions
What treatments have published prices in China?
We found prices we could check for MRI scans and colonoscopies. We have no verified price for health check-ups, cataract operations, laser eye operations, dental implants, veneers, hair transplants, hip replacements, knee replacements and IVF cycles yet.
Is it safe to have treatment in China?
We cannot judge the safety of a clinic, and listing a price is not a recommendation. Ask the clinic about the doctor's qualifications, how complications are handled, and who looks after you when you are home, and talk to your own doctor first.
Do I need a visa for medical treatment in China?
It depends on your passport and how long you stay. Use the official pages linked on this page: the FCDO for UK citizens, travel.gc.ca for Canadians, the State Department for US citizens and the Department of Foreign Affairs for Irish citizens.
Can I claim the cost back from the NHS or HSE?
No public scheme in the UK or Ireland covers planned treatment in China.
What language do clinics in China use?
Mandarin; English is reliable only in international departments and private hospitals.
Sources
- Hu Yi Bao Jia Cai Fa [2025] No. 11 (沪医保价采发〔2025〕11号): radiology examination prices (in Chinese). Shanghai Municipal Healthcare Security Administration, 16 April 2025. Read 26 October 2026.
- Jing Yi Bao Fa [2025] No. 13 (京医保发〔2025〕13号), Annex 3: radiology examination prices (in Chinese). Beijing Municipal Healthcare Security Administration, 17 June 2025. Read 26 October 2026.
- Sui Yi Bao Fa [2025] No. 12 (穗医保发〔2025〕12号), Annex 3: radiology examination prices (in Chinese). Guangzhou Healthcare Security Administration, 25 April 2025. Read 26 October 2026.
- Price list (service guide). Shanghai International Medical Center (SIMC). Read 26 October 2026.
- Hu Yi Bao Jia Cai Fa [2025] No. 52 (沪医保价采发〔2025〕52号): digestive endoscopy price items, effective 30 June 2026 (in Chinese). Shanghai Municipal Healthcare Security Administration, 2025. Read 26 October 2026.
- Foreign Ministry spokesperson on visa-free entry for Canada and the UK from 17 February 2026 (in Chinese). Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the PRC, 15 February 2026. Read 26 October 2026.
- Unilateral visa-free policy (单方面免签) (in Chinese). Embassy of the PRC in Canada, May 2026. Read 26 October 2026.
- 240-hour transit visa-free policy extended to 57 countries (in Chinese). Xinhua News Agency, 20 August 2026. Read 26 October 2026.
- Planned treatment: S2 funding route. NHS (nhs.uk). Read 26 October 2026.
- Treatment Abroad Scheme. Health Service Executive (HSE). Read 26 October 2026.
- Euro foreign exchange reference rates. European Central Bank, 23 October 2026. Read 26 October 2026.