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China at a Glance

Health Care and Education in China

Rikshas are a convenient mode of transportation.

Health Care

The standard of the Chinese health-care system may not be equal to what you are used to. In major cities with a sizable middle class and a large expat population, especially Beijing and Shanghai, there are quite a few international hospitals and recommended medical professionals, though.

Expatriates living in Guangzhou or Shenzhen often take advantage of the proximity to Hong Kong, where medical facilities are excellent. If you live in a smaller city, require complicated treatments or need to deliver a baby, it may be advisable to take a plane to Hong Kong or return home.

Generally speaking, you should take good care of your health before you go to China. Ask your family doctor for a comprehensive check-up exam to make sure you won’t require any minor surgeries or emergency treatment while abroad.

In case you need to see a doctor during your stay in China, make sure that you have sufficient health insurance coverage first. China introduced some basic health-care coverage for its citizens outside the government sector in the late 1990s. As of October 15, 2011, foreign employees living in China have to pay into the official Chinese health insurance system and are thus included in its coverage. However, this may not adequately cover your needs. Most expats thus opt for a private health insurance policy from a local or international provider.

According to their insurance status, people go to see a doctor at a local hospital or a private clinic. Ask your expatriate contacts, your employer, or your embassy to recommend a clinic with a reliable medical practitioner who speaks English or your mother tongue. Private patients usually have to pay in cash at the clinic (to be reimbursed later on), and medication is also purchased from the hospital pharmacy.

Health Risks

Keep yourself informed about major health risks in China: Unlike what Western media might have suggested during the SARS panic or the bird flu outbreak, more common health threats are posed by malaria, dengue fever, Japanese enzephalitis, diarrhea, rabies, hand-foot-and-mouth disease, and schistosomiasis (a worm infection caused by bathing in infested rivers). However, you can protect yourself by getting all recommended vaccinations, taking prophylactic drugs, packing a travel aid kit, and observing proper hygiene during your stay.

A word of warning for patients with severe respiratory diseases, disabilities, or special needs: Air pollution is a major issue in China’s megacities, as TV audiences could see during live broadcasts from the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008. The smog may put an undue strain on your respiratory system. Moreover, Chinese society is still developing in the area of disability rights and special needs, and it can be very hard to find adequate facilities for you and your children.

Child Care and Education

Since it is far from unusual for expats living in China to employ domestic staff, kids under the age of three are often taken care of by an āyí, a nanny and domestic helper. In most cases, household help is recommended by word-of-mouth referrals from other expatriates. Always ask prospective staff for their ID card, a copy of which may be used to run a background check.

It is far easier (and less paranoid), though, to simply call their previous employers and ask them for an honest appraisal of their former āyí. Domestic workers with 40 hrs/week contracts usually get paid about 2,500 RMB per month. However, an āyí who is fluent in English will receive a far higher salary.

If your children are older than three, there are pre-schools and kindergartens catering to the international community in bigger cities, but they may have waiting lists. Younger schoolchildren, who still pick up the local language easily and are not preparing for a university diploma, might be sent to a Chinese state school. However, check out the school’s facilities first and try to find references for the school to make sure your kid will be in safe hands.

As far as educational approaches are concerned, staff members in a Chinese-only environment often prefer more rigid teaching methods and a stricter attitude towards their pupils than what is now common in Western (or international) schools.

There are many international schools throughout China, including the provincial capitals. However, these schools sometimes have only a limited number of places available or their tuition fees are very high. For some parents, homeschooling their children via correspondence courses is a last resort.