Licence and scope
A current practising licence that lists the departments we describe.
International Medical Compliance & Hospital Credentials in China
Five checks you can make yourself before treatment in China, using official lookups, and the checks FreeClinic will complete before naming any partner hospital.
Five checks before you commit
Each check uses an official source; ask the hospital for help if a lookup is in Chinese only.
Hospital practising licence (医疗机构执业许可证)
Every hospital in China needs this licence. It lists the hospital's name, address and approved departments. Ask for a copy and look it up on the national medical institution registration service.
Tertiary grade A (三级甲等)
Chinese hospitals are graded by health authorities against national review standards. Grade 3A is the highest level. Check the grade on the hospital's licence information or provincial health commission website.
International department
Many large public hospitals run a separate international or VIP department. Confirm it exists, its contact details on the hospital's own website, and the languages it supports.
Doctor practising registration
National rules require doctor registrations to be open to public lookup. Use the National Health Commission lookup with the doctor's full name and the details it asks for, and check the practice scope matches your treatment.
JCI accreditation, if claimed
Joint Commission International accreditation is optional. If a hospital claims it, find the hospital on JCI's public list and check the date.
What each credential tells you
What they show
- The hospital is legally allowed to operate
- The department you need is on its licence
- The doctor is registered at that hospital
What they do not show
- Results for your own case
- Prices for international patients
- Whether a treatment suits you
Know the price rules
Caijing reported that international departments of public hospitals sit outside Chinese medical insurance and charge about 3 to 10 times the standard insured price. Always ask for a written estimate.
What FreeClinic will check before naming a partner
No partner hospital has been named. Before we name one, we plan to confirm the following.
Grade and international department
The hospital's official grade and a working international patient contact.
Doctor registration
Registration and practice scope for every doctor we name.
Written agreement
A signed agreement covering patient data, complaints and how fees are shown.
Warning signs
- No licence copy, or a name that does not match the licence
- Pressure to pay a deposit before records are reviewed
- Guaranteed results or cure claims
- A doctor who cannot be found in the official lookup
- Prices far below published list prices with no explanation
Credential questions
Does a high hospital grade mean I am eligible for treatment?
No. Grade describes the hospital. Eligibility is decided by the treating specialists after reviewing your records.
Are the lookups available in English?
Most official lookups are in Chinese. A browser translation tool can help, or ask the international department to show you its records.
How long is the hospital stay for most treatments?
It varies by treatment. Each of our treatment guides lists what to ask. Get the expected stay in writing before you travel.
Will a licensed hospital accept English medical records?
Licensing does not settle this. Ask the international department whether it accepts English reports or needs a translation.
Can I pay from abroad, and will insurance accept the hospital?
Ask which international payment methods it accepts. Your insurer may want proof of licence or accreditation before agreeing to cover anything.
Do I need a visa?
It depends on your nationality and stay. Check with the Chinese embassy or consulate in your country.
Start with a free triage consultation
Tell us about your diagnosis and goals, and a doctor will suggest realistic next steps. Your first triage consultation is free.
In an emergency, contact local emergency services. Please do not delay care at home while waiting for a reply.
Sources
- National Government Service Platform: medical institution registration lookup (医疗机构执业登记信息查询)
- National Health Commission service platform: information lookups (查信息)
- National Health Commission: Measures for Physician Practice Registration (医师执业注册管理办法)
- National Health Commission: Tertiary Hospital Review Standards, 2022 edition (三级医院评审标准)
- Joint Commission International: find accredited organizations
- Sina Finance / Caijing, Sept 2026
Prices and policies change. Figures are for general information and are not a quote or medical advice.