Planning medical care in China

Tell us what you’re looking into. You might want another opinion on an operation, help finding a specialist, or information about a particular medicine. A short account of your situation and the questions on your mind gives us somewhere to start.

• The condition or symptoms you want help with, and any diagnosis you have received.
• Treatment you have already had and what your current doctor has suggested.
• Where you live, your preferred language and whether you are enquiring for yourself or a family member.
• The questions that matter most to you: treatment options, hospital experience, costs, timing or whether a trip is worthwhile.

You’ll speak with a coordinator who has a medical background, by email. Our MD/PhD team reviews and supervises their work from the first enquiry. Together, we look at suitable hospitals, likely costs and how a visit could be arranged, and take your questions to the relevant departments.

The department matters as much as the hospital. We look for teams that deal with your diagnosis or proposed procedure and find out how they would assess your case. When several specialties need to be involved, we help coordinate that discussion.

If you’re interested in a medicine or clinical study, we contact the relevant department about the specific product or study, its availability and the information needed to assess eligibility. We bring that feedback back to you in writing.

We can arrange a records review, a discussion with the hospital or an appointment in China, depending on what your case needs. The hospital may be able to comment on existing reports and images, or recommend an examination in person.

Your coordinator translates the hospital’s feedback and follows up on questions from you and your family. We help you discuss the doctor’s proposed plan, understand the costs and decide whether to proceed.

Your coordinator puts the visit details together so you and your family can see what has been arranged and what comes next. If you are booking some parts yourself, we include the details needed to fit them around the hospital appointments.

• The purpose of the visit and the medical questions still to be answered.
• The hospital, department, campus and appointment details, with confirmation status.
• Required records and tests, with responsibility for obtaining or translating them.
• Separate estimates for hospital care, Marlinden services and travel or living expenses.
• The expected sequence of appointments, admission and follow-up, including which dates remain provisional.
• Your coordinator’s contact details and where to find updates if plans change.

We help prepare hospital documents for your visa application and organise the paperwork around your visit. Entry requirements depend on your circumstances and application location; check the guidance from the responsible Chinese embassy, consulate or visa service for you and any accompanying family member.

• Choose accommodation for the actual hospital campus. Consider lift access, walking distance, cooking or laundry facilities and room for a companion.
• We help confirm visiting hours and whether a family member can stay overnight.
• Plan arrival transport, any mobility assistance and how you will contact your coordinator after landing.
• Ask your current doctor about travel preparation and continuity of your regular medicines; check applicable rules for carrying them.
• We help clarify hospital deposits and payment methods, and gather the documents your insurer needs to assess coverage.

Keep your appointment details, hospital address, key documents and contact information available offline as well as on your phone. Tell us early about language, mobility, dietary or family needs so these can be included in the arrangements.

Bring your original documents and prepared records to the appointment. After examining you and reviewing the results, the doctor will discuss the treatment plan. Your coordinator can help with registration, interpreting, admission, appointment changes and questions about hospital bills.

As your stay comes to an end, we help organise discharge documents, medication instructions and follow-up appointments. Confirm your return flight date with the treating team, allowing time for recovery and reviews. Keep their instructions on who to contact if you need help after leaving the hospital.

• Obtain the discharge summary, procedure reports, relevant results and medication instructions.
• Arrange the translations needed by you and your doctor at home.
• Write down follow-up dates, the purpose of each review and how new results will reach the treating team.
• Keep the hospital’s contact instructions and an itemised record of payments.