看病

Hey everyone! Welcome to a new episode of Simply Natural Chinese! I'm Xiao Yue!

Hey everyone, I'm Leo.

Leo, you don't look so good today.

Haha, you noticed. I've been feeling sick since last night.

What's wrong? Where does it hurt?

I have a bit of a fever, I keep coughing, and my throat really hurts.

Oh no, sounds like you've caught a cold.

Probably. I took my temperature — 37.8°C.

That's not too high, but not normal either. Have you taken any medicine?

Not yet. I don't have any at home.

Then you should go see a doctor!

Actually, I'm a little scared.

Scared? Scared of what?

Scared of going to a hospital in China. I don't know the process and I'm afraid I won't figure it out.

Haha, so that's it. Then today let's have a good chat about this topic.

Perfect! I actually need to learn this.

Alright, today we're going to talk about how to see a doctor in China.

I think this topic is really useful for a lot of foreign friends.

Exactly. Honestly, even we Chinese sometimes get confused too.

Really?

Yeah, like which hospital to go to, what kind of appointment to book — we have to think about it every time.

Great, then let's learn together.

Okay, let me ask you first — have you ever seen a doctor in the UK?

Yes. But the UK and China are completely different.

What's it like over there?

In the UK, we usually go see a family doctor — a GP — first.

What's a family doctor?

It's a fixed doctor near where you live. For minor stuff, you see them first.

Oh, I see. What about serious illnesses?

The family doctor refers you to a big hospital. But you have to wait a long time.

How long?

Sometimes a few months.

What? Several months?!

Yeah, so British people really envy Chinese hospitals.

Haha, so that's how it is. In China, we can go straight to a big hospital.

So how many types of hospitals are there in China?

Roughly three. First, public hospitals. Second, private hospitals. Third, community hospitals.

What's a public hospital?

Public hospitals are run by the government — most people go to these.

And private hospitals?

Private hospitals are privately owned — nice environment, but expensive.

What about community hospitals?

Community hospitals are small hospitals near where you live — convenient for minor stuff.

So where should I go for minor illnesses?

For minor stuff, you can go to a community hospital or a public hospital.

And serious illnesses?

For serious illnesses, you definitely need a big public hospital — especially a Sanjia hospital.

Wait, what's a Sanjia hospital?

Sanjia hospitals are the top-tier ones — best doctors, best equipment.

Oh, I see. So does everyone want to go to a Sanjia hospital?

Yeah! That's why Sanjia hospitals are super crowded.

How crowded?

People start lining up at the door at 6 a.m.

6 a.m.?!

Yeah, sometimes if you go too late, you can't get a slot at all.

What does "can't get a slot" mean?

Haha, that's exactly what I'm about to explain. Let's talk about guahao — registration.

Okay, what does guahao actually mean?

Guahao means signing in — telling the hospital which doctor you want to see today.

Oh, like an appointment?

Similar, but a bit more formal.

So how do you do guahao?

Now there are two ways. One is registering on-site at the hospital, the other is using a phone app.

A phone app?

Yeah, you can book up to a week ahead. That way you don't have to wait in line.

So convenient! Which app is it?

Each hospital has its own app, and there are also unified booking platforms.

Got it. So what do you need to choose when you register?

You pick a department and a doctor.

What's a department?

A keshi is a section of the hospital. Like internal medicine, surgery, pediatrics.

So which department should I pick for a cold?

For a cold, usually internal medicine.

What does internal medicine treat?

Internal medicine mainly treats internal illnesses — colds, coughs, stomachaches.

And surgery?

Surgery is for things that need an operation. Like fractures or external injuries.

Oh, I see. What other departments are there?

There's also dermatology, ophthalmology, dentistry, gynecology — lots of them.

What if I don't know which department to pick?

You can ask at the hospital information desk.

What's an information desk?

It's the help desk at the hospital entrance — someone there will help you pick a department.

Oh, that's great.

One more thing you should know — there's "regular" registration and "specialist" registration.

What's the difference?

Regular is cheap, specialist is more expensive but the doctor is more experienced.

So which one should I pick for a cold?

Regular is enough for minor stuff. Save specialist for serious illnesses.

Got it. Does registration cost money?

Yes. Regular is about 10–20 yuan, specialist ranges from a few dozen to a few hundred yuan.

That's not bad.

Yeah, healthcare in China actually isn't that expensive.

In the UK, seeing a doctor is free, but you have to wait.

Haha, each has its perks.

So how do Chinese people pay for healthcare?

Most Chinese people have yibao — medical insurance.

What's yibao?

Yibao is medical insurance — government-run, with a small amount deducted from your paycheck each month.

Do you use a yibao card when you see a doctor?

Yes, with a yibao card you can get part of the cost reimbursed — baoxiao.

What's baoxiao?

Baoxiao means the hospital takes the money first, then yibao pays part of it back to you.

Oh, got it. So what about foreigners like me?

Foreigners usually pay out of pocket, or buy private insurance.

Is paying out of pocket expensive?

For minor stuff like colds and fevers, no — just a few dozen to a few hundred yuan.

That's manageable.

Yeah, so don't worry too much.

Okay, what happens after you register?

After registering, you go line up at the right department.

How long do you wait?

Depends on the hospital and time. Sometimes ten or twenty minutes, sometimes one or two hours.

Ugh, that's long.

That's why it's best to go early.

Then what?

When it's your turn, the nurse will call your name.

What does the doctor do once you go in?

The doctor asks where you feel sick and when it started.

Then?

Then the doctor checks you. Listens to your chest, looks at your throat.

Does it take long?

Usually short — just a few minutes.

That fast?

Yeah, because there are lots of people waiting behind you.

Haha, right.

After examining you, the doctor may ask you to do some tests.

What kind of tests?

Like blood tests, X-rays, CT scans.

What's paipianzi?

It means using a machine to scan your body and see if there's any problem inside.

Oh, X-ray!

Right, that's an X-ray.

Do you go somewhere else for the tests?

Yes, you go to a separate testing department. After the tests, you bring the results back to the doctor.

Sounds like a hassle.

It is a bit, but that's how the doctor confirms what's wrong.

Got it. What happens after the tests?

The doctor reads the results and prescribes medicine — kaiyao.

What does kaiyao mean?

Kaiyao means the doctor writes a slip telling the pharmacy what medicine you need.

What's that slip called?

It's called chufang — a prescription.

Then where do I pick up the medicine?

Go to the pharmacy inside the hospital.

The pharmacy is inside the hospital?

Yes, most hospitals have one.

So convenient!

Yeah, you can pick up the medicine right after seeing the doctor.

Do you pay for the medicine too?

Yes, but yibao can cover part of it.

Okay, I roughly get the whole process now.

Let's review together. What's step one?

Step one is guahao — register.

Right! Step two?

Step two is line up and wait for the doctor.

Step three?

Step three is the doctor examines you.

Step four?

Step four is do the tests.

Step five?

Step five is the doctor prescribes medicine.

Step six?

Step six is pick up the medicine at the pharmacy.

Exactly! You learn fast.

Haha, because you teach well.

Let me ask you another question — what if you get sick in the middle of the night?

Middle of the night? Are hospitals open?

Big hospitals have jizhen — emergency room. Open 24 hours.

What's jizhen?

Jizhen handles emergencies. Like a high fever in the middle of the night or a sudden injury.

Oh, got it. How's it different from regular care?

Jizhen doesn't need an appointment — just go. But it only handles urgent cases.

Can you go to jizhen for an ordinary cold?