Americans can access medical and hospital care in China, and pay whatever charges are made. The cost will usually be relatively low. Considerable care needs to be taken, however, in selecting both doctors and hospitals because the quality of care varies greatly. Any visitor to one of HTH Worldwide's websites can access a list of notable hospitals in popular Chinese destinations by reviewing "CityHealth Profiles." HTH Worldwide's international provider community provides access to qualified English-speaking doctors who have been carefully selected. In addition, Americans can contact the American Embassy in Beijing or the American consulates in various parts of China for a list of doctors who speak English, and hospitals that treat foreign patients, though the Embassy and consulates cannot make recommendations on their professional competence.

The American consulates in China have developed a warden system in several cities. Staffed by American volunteers who are resident in China, they serve as a point of contact for Americans who may be in need of assistance, medical or otherwise. Americans who will be spending a considerable length of time in China should not only register with the American Consulate and the warden system but also consider being a volunteer warden.

In Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Hong Kong there are private medical facilities set up to treat people from other countries. American and other western trained doctors staff some of these facilities, and some have a doctor on staff 24 hours a day. Generally these facilities handle minor emergencies and routine medical care for adults and children, deliveries, and some relatively simple surgery. In the absence of guidance from HTH Worldwide, or the American Embassy or Consulate, in an emergency Americans should go to one of these facilities or to the largest Chinese hospital in the area. Language is likely to be a problem at the Chinese hospitals so it would be advisable to be accompanied by a person who speaks Chinese. Payment for care is often expected before services are provided.

Depending on where they live, and the amount of money or insurance they have, Chinese people access their health system through their village or town health centers as well as at the county or higher-level hospitals. Patient fee-for-service charges are made for care. Village health workers, who have limited training, staff the village health centers. People who can afford it typically bypass these workers and go to the town health centers where there are better-trained medical personnel, typically a "doctor" who has had about 3 years of medical training but is not a qualified medical doctor by Chinese standards. These health centers have on average 16 beds for inpatient care. At the next level, the county hospital will have a number of qualified medical doctors and these hospitals have about 130 beds. In the larger cities one will find municipal, provincial and national hospitals staffed by a broader range of more qualified medical practitioners.

Government monies constitute a little more than half of hospital operating costs. The balance must be made from health insurance and patient payments. Since basic hospital services are price controlled, and both government and insurance payments provide only part of the costs of care, hospitals make the rest of their operating costs through high drug prices, excessive use of these drugs, and increased use of new expensive technologies. The pay of doctors is low. Patient tipping of doctors to secure attentive treatment is common.

The Chinese government is encouraging the development of private health insurance and hopes that over 80% of the people will be covered by 2010. In rural areas at present it is estimated that only 10-15% of the people has private health insurance. Uninsured patients must pay for care out-of-pocket or use herbal and other traditional remedies. In urban areas, an estimated 50% of people currently have private health insurance. Health insurance policies vary as to what is covered and patient co-payments for medical services are typically required particularly for drugs and new technological services.

Traditional Chinese medicine continues to be strong throughout China, and there are a number of medical schools that train traditional practitioners. In addition, most hospitals that practice western style medicine also have traditional medicine departments. Traditional medicine is also part of the curriculum in the western type medical schools. Traditional medicine includes herbs, acupuncture, and massage.