Health Traveler
Definite Guide to Medical Tourism

Medical Tourism Destinations - China

Overview of China

Home to approximately 1.3 billion citizens, China is the most populous country in the entire world. It is located beneath Mongolia in East Asia and stretches 3.7 million square miles, making it the world's second largest country by land area. Officially referred to as the People's Republic of China (PRC), the country was founded in 1949 after the defeat of the country's previous nationalist Kuomintag by the Communist Party. The Kuomintag retreated to Taiwan and split the Chinese territory into two nations: the PRC on the mainland and the Republic of China in Taiwan. Until 2008, this separation caused some turbulence between the two countries and the PRC has often threatened to invade the country. However, recently the two states have progressed toward a more harmonious relationship.

From the 1949 to 1976, communist leader Mao Tse-Tung brutally enforced his ideals for Chinese society based on Marxist and Leninist ideologies, which led to millions of citizen deaths. The Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution were two programs instated by Mao, which attempted to control the country's industrialization and agriculture as well as combat resistance and threats to Communist rule. These programs were the primary causes of the millions of deaths during Mao's rule. Following Mao's death in 1976, the country acquired new leadership and begin to loosen former restrictions on private enterprise.

China's economic reform has led to outstanding progression that has ultimately made the country the fastest-growing major economy in the world. In 2011, China became the world's second largest economy in the world, right behind the United States. Recently, China has developed the 12th Five Year Plan for its country, which is expected to make important reforms for the country between the years 2011 and 2015. These reforms include increasing jobs to stabilize growth, increasing incomes, improving the balance of pay, speeding up rural-urban development, reducing poverty, increasing access to basic public services, improving education, improving integration into the world economy, and so forth. When considering China's success in previous reforms, these new reform plans should lead to the increased success of a consistently improving nation.

Overview of Medical Tourism in China

In terms of medical tourism, China is quickly becoming the fastest emerging destination for individuals seeking medical treatment for a wide range of medical categories, including orthopedics, neurology, cardiology, and more. The country features a growing number of private and government-sponsored hospitals with reputable international medical departments in high-density cities throughout the country. Medical treatment in China-based medical centers integrate traditional Chinese medicine with advanced technology and treatment methods derived from the West. China boasts the world's leading stem cell research and offers treatment centers for Westerners who wish to receive stem cell treatment that is unavailable in their country of origin.

China's economic growth and political reform has improved the overall infrastructure of the company, which has improved the country's medical tourism by default. In terms of general healthcare, these improvements are evidenced by an increase in the number of hospitals and medical buildings, as well as the modernization of existing structures. These exterior improvements are reflected by the improvement of the interior of China's medical system, with improvements in medical education, technology, and techniques as well. The effectiveness of modern medicine relies heavily on modern technology to ensure accurate diagnoses and more effective surgical procedures. With this fact in mind and with the country's recent reforms, China has been able to upgrade its medical facilities with the technology and tools necessary to ensure effective medical procedures. These recent advancements have made Chinese medical facilities comparable to those in the Western half of the world.

China's dense population combined with its citizens industrious work ethic makes the country a rich supply of human resources, which proves to be extremely beneficial to medical tourism in the country. With China's rich history of traditional Chinese medicine, combined with improvements and Westernization in the medical department of the country's education system, medical professionals in the country are fully qualified to provide expert treatment and attention to a wide variety of diseases and health issues.

Many medical professionals in China have studied or conducted research in western countries as well, which gives them hands-on experience in both Western and Eastern influences on modern medicine. Additionally, medical professionals in China treat a large number of patients throughout their practice, which gives them the experience necessary for the utmost medical professionalism and efficiency. Since many Chinese hospitals are owned by the government, affordability is another notable appeal for medical tourism in the country. Despite the affordable costs, the high ethic standards and credenials of Chinese medical professionals ensures a great value without sacrificing quality care.

Additional Tourist Information for Visitors of China

Language - Modern Standard Mandarin (or Putonghua) is the official spoken language in China, however, the country also recognizes several regional languages including Mongolian, Zhuang, Tibetan, and Uyghur. Different ethnic groups in the country speak variants of Chinese and various regional dialects as well. Individuals who attend higher education in the country are required to learn English to improve international relations.

Currency - China's currency is the Renminbi (RMB or CNY) and the country's basic unit is the Yuan.

Climate - China is distinguished by a continental climate, which features tropical and subtropical zones in the southern half and frigid zones in the northern half. The northern portion of the country is characterized by extended winters and no summers, while the Hainan Island has extended summers and no winters. The Huaihe River valley enjoys distinctive seasonal changes, while the Tibetan area of China features low temperatures throughout the year.

Visa - Medical tourists and general tourists visiting China must have a Visa to gain entrance into the country. A valid passport is also required for entrance into the country. Prospective visitors should apply for their Visas at least one month prior to departure to avoid delays or problems with delivery. China does not offer a rushed service for mailed applications.

Sightseeing - Because of the immense size of China, there are plenty of breathtaking and inspiring sights to see while in the country. Although there may be a lot to see, some especially notable sights include Beijing to Tibet through the Xi'an terra cotta warriors, navigating down the Yangtze River, traveling down picturesque Silk Road, and discovering the magical lands in Guangxi Province. The best place to begin sightseeing is in the capital city of Beijing, which features ancient palaces like the Forbidden City and the Summer Palace. Visitors can also view the world-famous Great Wall of China from its starting point in Beijing.

Shopping - China features a wide variety of exotic and unique shops that make excellent gifts and souvenirs to take home for yourself as well as friends and family. China has every type of shopping center imaginable, including roadside gift shops, large and bustling shopping malls, department stores, boutiques, supermarkets, emporiums and more to find anything your heart desires.