Oh, yes, no better place to get sick than that on the other side of the world, in a country far from home, where you don't speak the language!
Coming from the country with supposedly the best healthcare index in the world (Denmark) I had the "unluckiness" of getting sick in China. I started coughing non-stop, and my throat was very irritated. This lasted for 4 days when I found myself heading to the hospital.
Hospitals in China are easy to find on Google Maps by searching "Hospital":
And on the Chinese app Amap (available on Android and iOS ) by searching "医院" (hospital):
Even though everything will be in Mandarin on Amap, it's possible to use image translation with Google Translate to make sure you are going to the right place.
Make sure to bring your passport, and prepare a description of your symptoms in advance using Google Translator or DeepL. Doctors are unlikely to speak English.
Upon arriving at the hospital, there will be a counter with usually a small queue, where you present your passport and pay around 9 YUAN (1USD) for an initial check.
As there are very few foreigners now, especially in hospitals, they may look at your passport as if it's from another planet! In my case, the hospital worker didn't understand where the name field was, and instead wrote my nationality as my name. All fine; it was unlikely there would be many Portuguese at the hospital that day to confuse me with! After paying, you receive a piece of paper. Now, better ask for directions on where to go next! You will be directed to a waiting room, near the doctor's office, and be called shortly after.
My doctor was very friendly, even though there was a significant language barrier. She diagnosed me with pharyngitis and prescribed antibiotics and inhalation therapy. This therapy consists of breathing in the medicine through something that resembles a pipe. This method delivers the medicine directly to the affected areas, with supposedly fewer side effects. It has a long history of use since ancient China in the forms of smoke, steam vapor, medicated pillows, and aromatic sachets. It was certainly very exotic for me!
After this, you should return to the same counter to pay for the consultation and the future treatments. In my case, this was around 140 Yuan (20 USD). This was incredibly cheap, as the inhalation therapy consisted of two daily sessions of 40 minutes each, over 3 days.
Following this, I also visited a Chinese dentist's clinic. Again, I was pleasantly surprised. For a total of 40 minutes of teeth cleaning and an x-ray, I paid only 45 Yuan, or around 6 USD!
So, is China a good place to get sick? - No place truly is, and the language barrier, if you don't speak Mandarin, won't make it any easier. However, treatments are affordable, and people are friendly. While in southern Europe I got used to waiting an intire day in emergencies for a medical check, the Chinese system was fast, efficient, and professional.
