How do I verify a Chinese hospital is legitimate?

Check three things: its official tier (三甲 / Grade-A tertiary is the top public rating), whether it holds a licence to treat international patients (international departments do), and any international accreditation. Ask for the doctor's credentials and case volume for your specific procedure — high-volume centres publish them.

What happens if something goes wrong after I fly home?

This is the question that matters most. Before booking, agree in writing: an English discharge summary, implant/device documentation, a remote review channel with your surgical team, and a handover letter your home GP can act on. If a provider will not commit to these, do not book.

Is surgery in China safe for foreigners? What to check before you book

"Is it safe?" is the first question every family asks — and it has a boring answer: safety lives in the institution and the surgeon, not in the passport stamp. China has hospitals you should fly across the world for, and clinics you should not walk into. Here is the 7-point checklist we apply before recommending any institution.

The checklist

1. Official tier. Look for 三甲 (Grade-A tertiary) public hospitals or internationally accredited private specialty chains. The tier system is public and verifiable.
2. International department. Hospitals licensed for international patients run dedicated international departments with English-speaking staff and transparent self-pay pricing.
3. Surgeon volume. Ask how many of your specific procedure the surgeon performs yearly. For high-frequency procedures — joint replacement, LASIK, implants — top Chinese centres often exceed typical Western volumes.
4. Written quote. A fixed-price written quote before you fly. Verbal estimates are not quotes.
5. English documentation. Discharge summary, operative notes and implant documentation in English — your home GP's lifeline.
6. Follow-up channel. A named route for remote review after you fly home, plus a handover letter for your GP.
7. Emergency plan. What happens if you have a complication at 2am — and after you land home. Get it in writing.

This checklist is general information, not a guarantee or medical advice. Every case is different — discuss your specific situation with licensed physicians.

Red flags that should end the conversation

Pressure to pay in cash before any consultation; no written quote; no named surgeon; promises of "guaranteed outcomes"; a coordinator who cannot explain the follow-up plan. Any one of these — walk away.

How MedBridge applies this

We are building our hospital network against exactly this checklist — tier verification, international-department licensing, credential checks and written-quote requirements. Our about page explains who reviews our content, and the Cost Compass shows which institutions produce the numbers we publish.