How to Handle a Medical Emergency in Beijing?

Generally, people don’t want to imagine a medical emergency happening to them in a foreign country. We hope that we will never experience any medical emergency and never need an ambulance anywhere. But we should be ready for every situation. 

Let’s imagine what you will do if you have an accident on the street or at home? Or what if you have unexpected chest pain? How to call an ambulance in China? Where to go for emergency healthcare? or Where to find an emergency room? Here is the answer to these entire questions arise in your mind. 

How to call an Ambulance in Beijing?

There are two numbers you can call for an emergency ambulance:

• 120 – Beijing Emergency Medical Center
• 999 – Beijing Red Cross

Beijing Red Cross is a private English speaking service, if you don’t speak Chinese you can call them. It is very convenient for foreigners. They provide ambulances that typically worked by the Beijing Emergency Medical Center, but are also connected with the Beijing Red Cross. Thus no matter, which number you call for emergency care, you will get the same ambulance. 

From May 2016 the local ambulances are metered like taxis to normalize the service fees. 

For emergency care, you can also call the Beijing United Family Hospital. Their emergency number is +86 (10) 5927-7120 and the services are available for 24 hours. The staff speaks English so you can easily get an emergency ambulance. 

It is depending on the situation, it may be faster to get to a hospital by taxi than an ambulance. You may need to call your family doctor first to get medical advice before getting to a hospital. This way you can let your doctor know what the condition is. 

Getting an Emergency room in Beijing

In Beijing, there are many international healthcare centers. They offer English speaking staff and high-end healthcare services. International hospitals and clinics are usually expensive than local ones. But only hospitals provide emergency rooms, while the clinics offer urgent care and outpatient services. 

If you want to avoid high hospital fees or if the international hospital is too far away from you, you can get to some Chinese hospitals that offer English-speaking staff and excellent care. 

Here is the list of some Chinese hospitals. Of course, it is not a complete list. Please recheck the address and phone numbers, I can’t guarantee that the address and number given below are always precise. 

• Beijing United Family Hospital (BUFH)

BUFH is a top international hospital in Beijing. It is located in Chaoyang District, Beijing. The central hospital with emergency room and urgent healthcare services are situated in the Lido area. 

• Peking Union Medical College Hospital

Location: 53 Dong Dan North Road, Dong Cheng District, Beijing.

Phone number: +86 010-65294088

It is one of the largest practice hospitals that have a clinic for ex-pats with the most advanced facilities and international standards. 

• China-Japan Friendship Hospital: International Medical Center

Located in Yinghua East Street, Chaoyang District, Beijing. 

Tel: +86 010-64223209

It was the main hospital to assist sportspersons, trainers, and other executives during the 2008 Olympics.

• Peking University Third Hospital

Located at 49 Huayuan N Rd, Haidian, in Beijing.

Tel: +86 10 8226 6699

It is a high-end international hospital with 22 clinical departments and 945 beds. It is famous for obstetrics, gynecology, sport’s medicine, orthopedic departments, cardiovascular, and reconstructive surgery. 

In local Chinese hospitals, you have to pay the hospital fees before checkups, tests, or treatments. However, in international hospitals, you pay at checking out. 

In Beijing, emergency rooms are open for everyone who is badly injured or in serious condition, even without pre-payment. 

Where you can get urgent healthcare in Beijing?

If you want to get a checkup for an emergency medical issue that doesn’t need an emergency room, you can consider finding urgent healthcare. 

• Raffles Medicals: known as International SOS

Address: Suite 105, Wing 1, Kunsha Building, 16 Xinyuanli, Chaoyang District

Phone number: +86 (0)10 6462 9112

It usually opens daily from 8.00 am to 8.00 pm. They try to even out the patient and offer slight healthcare dealings. 

• Beijing United Family Hospital

Address: 2 Jiang Tai Lu, Chaoyang District, Beijing

Phone number: +86 010-6433-2345 

Their emergency services are available 24 hours. 

Always be ready for any Medical Emergency

• Search out the best clinics and hospitals close to your home and office. You can ask other foreigners, colleagues or neighbors. You may find some good hospitals to go to for your routine care. If you don’t want to waste your time in traffic always choose the closest qualified hospital or clinic. 
• If you have to go to a local Chinese hospital without English speaking staff, always bring your Chinese-speaking friend who can address your medical issue to the doctor or staff. 
• Always keep the address and phone number of hospitals, you can save it on your phone. You should also have the name and address of the hospital written in Chinese characters, you can show it to the taxi driver. 
• Knowing first aid and CPR is always beneficial. You can take a class at an international hospital and clinic. 

Let’s hope we will never experience any medical emergency anywhere. However, we have to be ready for every situation. Please share your recommendations and experience in the comments.