How Foreigners Get Treated at West China Hospital: A Step-by-Step Guide

West China Hospital (四川大学华西医院) ranks No. 7 among healthcare institutions worldwide and No. 1 in China in the Nature Index (2025–2026), with 5,000+ beds and decades of nationally leading specialties. International patients are treated through its Special-Needs (International) Medical Center — and with preparation, the route is smoother than most expect. Here is every step.

Step 1 · Send your records for pre-review

Email medical records, imaging and pathology reports (translated into Chinese) to the international department for pre-review. This determines which department and specialist you need, and flags anything that needs arranging before you fly.

Records checklist: what to prepare

• Doctor's summary letter — diagnosis with dates, symptom timeline, treatments to date, and why you are seeking care in China
• Pathology & lab reports — full pathology report (incl. IHC / genomics for cancer cases); bloodwork from the last 1–3 months
• Imaging: report + original DICOM — the written report alone is rarely enough; request the original DICOM dataset (disc, USB or cloud — usually ready in 24–48 h) and zip the whole folder before sending
• Surgery records & discharge summaries — noting technique and implants, if any
• Medication & allergy list — current medications and supplements with doses; drug allergies
• Passport — a clear copy of the photo page

Name files clearly (e.g. 2026-08-12_Lumbar-MRI_Report.pdf), keep originals and send digital copies, and add a one-page timeline summary. Records in English can usually be read directly by top hospitals; other languages are translated into English or Chinese — part of TFUCare's standard service.

Step 2 · Remote consultation (recommended)

Before committing to travel, a video consultation with the specialist gives you a preliminary opinion and a cost range. Many patients make the go/no-go decision at this step. For complex cases, the hospital runs international multidisciplinary (MDT) consultations with US centers including Memorial Sloan Kettering, MD Anderson, Cleveland Clinic and Mayo Clinic.

Step 3 · Entry and travel

Citizens of 75+ countries enter China visa-free (up to 30 days, medical purpose permitted). We arrange invitation documents where a visa is needed, plus flights and hotels.

Step 4 · Arrival

Airport pickup at TFU or CTU; local SIM and mobile payment set up the same day — cashless life in China requires both.

Step 5 · Visit day at the International Medical Center

• Registration with your passport (your coordinator handles the queue).
• Specialist consultation, with interpretation throughout.
• Tests as ordered — MRI reports typically within 24–48 hours.
• If admission is needed: the IMC has bilingual staff and hotel-style single rooms, comfortable for patients and accompanying family.

Step 6 · Insurance and direct billing

The IMC publishes direct-billing partnerships with 20+ insurers and assistance companies — Bupa, AXA, Allianz, AIA, Cigna, MSH and more. Verification and coordination are handled before and during your stay; coverage decisions rest with your insurer.

Step 7 · Home, with follow-up in place

You leave with a bilingual report for your doctors at home. Follow-up reminders, medication questions and remote consultations continue by video as needed.

What to bring

• Passport (valid 6+ months) and, if insured, your insurance card/policy details.
• All imaging on disc or DICOM, plus prior reports — translated in advance.
• A written medication list including dosages.
• Comfortable shoes: campus grounds are large, and electric shuttles run between buildings.

A note on TFUCare

We are an independent patient-service company — not the hospital's agent. Our job is everything around the treatment: translation, appointments, interpretation, logistics, and honest answers about what is possible. A first consultation is free.