Astrid Poghosyan, an Armenian project manager who has called Shanghai home for 16 years, attests to the evolving landscape of international healthcare in the city.

"The medical system and a lot of equipment were renewed," she said during her visit to Huashan Hospital, one of Shanghai's pioneers in international medical services.

Poghosyan was also impressed by the fluent English spoken by doctors and nurses. "Everybody had a very great skill of English language that there was no problem for us to communicate," she said.

Zhou Pu, a doctor at Huashan Hospital's International Medical Center, emphasized the hospital's patient-centric approach.

"Our model emphasizes personalized care, with a dedicated team providing comprehensive support throughout the patient's journey," she said.

In some hospitals, payment procedures have been streamlined to better serve expat patients.

Housed in a century-old building, Huadong Hospital left a strong impression on Justin O'Jack, chief representative of the University of Virginia China Office.

Beyond its aesthetic appeal, O'Jack found Huadong's direct billing arrangements with foreign insurance companies a welcome surprise. "I'm glad to see that those steps have already been taken and are becoming easier and easier to implement," he said, noting that it's crucial to streamline services like direct billing at hospitals to attract more international residents and travelers.

For Natacha Tarascon, a French entrepreneur and mother of three, Zhongshan Hospital presents a refreshing change from public hospitals she has experienced in other countries.

"It's super modern, well-designed, and has a very quiet and secure atmosphere," she said. Tarascon, who has extensive experience with Shanghai's healthcare system, was particularly impressed by the hospital's modern facilities and welcoming environment.

Edwin Montealegre, a Costa Rican music conductor, recounted his experience seeking medical attention at Zhongshan Hospital, praising the efficiency and speed of the services.

"In just three and a half hours, I have had consultations, blood tests, an electrocardiogram, and received my diagnosis and prescriptions. In Costa Rica, if I had the same problem, probably it would take several months. So it's a really big difference," he said.

For Beecher Ashley-Brown, navigating Shanghai's healthcare system begins with the city's guide for expats. "The booklet provides invaluable information on hospitals, treatments, and booking procedures," he said.

Ashish Maskay, an orthopedic surgeon at Shanghai United Family Hospital, was impressed by Ruijin Hospital's embrace of technology.

"I see a lot of digital setups that has been put around, including the little robots and information screens," he said. He also commended the hospital's bilingual signage and resources, making navigation easier for international visitors.

Alex Bushroe, a reporter with Shanghai Daily, shared his perspective on the advantages of seeking healthcare in Shanghai.

"There might be certain medical procedures that maybe in my small town in the US, maybe the doctor only does once a year, but the doctors here in Shanghai might do once a week, just because they're very professional, but they're also very experienced. So I think that's a huge advantage that the doctors here have," he said.

 

Luo Bin and Qian Fengnan contributed to this story.