For an English-speaking hospital in Shanghai, start with the city government's official directory of international medical services. Its "Find a Hospital" entries, compiled from the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Health, give each provider's international desk down to the building and floor, plus service languages, hours, listed departments, phone and email — for nearly 50 public, private and specialty providers[1][2]. Public teaching hospitals run these desks as a paid tier inside the hospital; private hospitals are built around English service and insurance billing. Choose by your condition first, then confirm the campus, the door and the contact before you fly.
This guide answers three questions: which hospital, which door, how to contact it. For the city itself — airports, visas, where to stay — see the Shanghai city guide.
The official directory, and what it does and does not tell you
Most directory entries were posted in October 2024 and end with "Source: Shanghai Municipal Commission of Health"[2][22]. They describe what each hospital reported to the city; they are not rankings. Two city programs sit behind many entries. In 2020 the Health Commission ran a first international medical tourism pilot among socially run (社会办) providers, naming 10 pilot institutions — including Jiahui, Aier Eye, DeltaHealth, the Proton and Heavy Ion Center and Shanghai International Medical Center — plus 10 "seed" institutions such as United Family's Pudong hospital[34]. In 2024, 13 public hospitals were formally named pilot units: Huashan, Zhongshan, Ruijin, Renji, Huadong, Xinhua, Shanghai General, the Sixth People's, Longhua, the Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, the International Peace Maternity & Child Health Hospital and Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital[33]. By February 2026, local media reported 22 approved public pilot units[39].
Demand is real but modest: Shanghai's public hospitals served 73,200 visits by patients using foreign passports in 2025, up from 67,600 in 2024[37]. Most of Huashan's foreign patients are people living in Shanghai rather than medical travelers[39].
Public international departments vs private hospitals
- Public international department (国际医疗部). A separate reception inside a large teaching hospital, with premium prices, appointments and English support; the specialists come from the same hospital departments. The city's August 2025 guide puts ordinary registration at a city-level public hospital at ¥25 and a public VIP service at several hundred yuan[35].
- Private international hospital. Bilingual hotlines, commercial insurance accepted, and a wider choice of imported drugs; registration usually costs several hundred to over ¥1,000[35].
The trade-offs are covered in public vs private hospitals and international departments explained.
Comparison: public general hospitals' international services
Languages and departments are as listed by the city (EN English, FR French, JA Japanese, DE German, ES Spanish, RU Russian, AR Arabic, KO Korean, PL Polish, MS Malay, HI Hindi). Numbers starting with 400 are China-only hotlines that may not connect from abroad.
| Hospital |
District |
International desk (as listed) |
Languages |
Hours |
Listed departments (examples) |
Desk phone; email |
| Huashan — guide |
Jing'an |
8F, Building 1, 12 Middle Wulumuqi Rd |
EN |
Workdays 8–17 |
28, incl. international general practice, neurosurgery, neurology, dermatology, sports medicine |
+86 21 6248 3986, +86 21 5288 9998; hwmc@huashan.org.cn[2] |
| Zhongshan |
Xuhui |
Gate 10B, 111 Yixueyuan Rd |
EN, FR, JA |
Mon–Fri 8–17, Sat 8–12 |
MDT clinics, outpatient chemotherapy, acupuncture, remote consultation |
400 626 0121; customer.service@zs-hospital.sh.cn[3] |
| Ruijin — guide |
Huangpu |
Outpatients: B1F/1F, Building 10, 197 Ruijin No. 2 Rd |
EN |
Mon–Sat 8–17 |
29, incl. general practice, endocrinology, hematology, cancer center |
+86 21 6467 8970; vip@rjh.com.cn[4] |
| Renji |
Pudong |
1F, Building 15, 33 Beiyuan Rd |
EN, FR, JA, DE, PL, Ukrainian, RU |
Mon–Sat 8–17 |
gastroenterology, rheumatology, liver surgery, reproductive medicine |
+86 21 6838 3408; renji_clinic@renji.com[5] |
| Huadong |
Jing'an |
Building 5, 221 West Yan'an Rd |
EN, JA |
24 hours |
surgery, neurosurgery, orthopedics incl. hip replacement, cardiology |
+86 21 6248 2423, +86 181 2122 1395[6] |
| Shanghai General |
Hongkou |
6F/9F/10F, 86 Wujin Rd |
EN, JA, RU |
24 hours |
cardiology, ENT, ophthalmology, urology, oncology |
+86 21 6324 3852; imcc@shgh.cn[7] |
| Sixth People's |
Xuhui; Lingang |
9F, Outpatient Building 1, 600 Yishan Rd |
EN |
Mon–Fri 8–11:30, 13–16:30 |
orthopedics, endocrinology, ENT |
+86 21 2405 6318 (Xuhui), +86 21 3829 7150 (Lingang)[8] |
| Tenth People's |
Jing'an |
301 Middle Yanchang Rd |
EN, FR, JA, DE, ES, AR, RU |
Mon–Sat 8–17 |
16, incl. cardiology, oncology, stomatology, pediatrics |
+86 21 6630 7026, +86 21 6630 1159[9] |
| Xinhua |
Yangpu |
MF, Building 28, 1665 Kongjiang Rd |
EN |
Daily 8–17 |
pediatrics, neonatal surgery, spine center, OB/GYN |
+86 21 2507 8147, +86 139 1659 8343[10] |
| Ninth People's |
Pudong |
1908 West Gaoke Rd |
EN |
Mon–Sat 8–11:30, 13:30–17 |
oral and maxillofacial surgery, implants, orthodontics, plastic surgery |
+86 21 5331 4069[11] |
Private international hospitals
| Hospital |
District |
Address |
Languages |
Hours |
Focus (as published) |
Contact |
| Jiahui International |
Xuhui |
689 Guiping Rd |
EN, KO, JA, AR, DE, ES, RU |
24 hours |
cancer center incl. CAR-T, health management, surgery, orthopedics and sports medicine |
400 8683 000 (24-h line); info@jiahui.com[12] |
| United Family (Changning) |
Changning |
699 Pingtang Rd |
not listed |
Outpatients 9–18; emergency 24 h[1] |
full-service: 24-h ER, inpatient, pediatrics |
Appointments 400 639 3900; ER +86 21 2216 3999[15] |
| United Family Pudong |
Pudong |
1598 New Jinqiao Rd |
not listed |
Outpatients 9–17; emergency 24 h[1] |
general hospital |
Appointments 400 639 3900; ER +86 21 3886 2999[16] |
| Parkway Shanghai |
Minhang |
1172 Jile Rd |
team from 14 countries, 10 languages |
Outpatients daily 8:30–17:30 |
orthopedics, cardiology, urology, check-ups, TCM |
400 819 6622 (international patients); +86 21 3359 1588 (hospital)[17] |
| Raffles Shanghai |
Pudong |
200 Yuanzhao Rd |
not listed |
Outpatients Mon–Sat 8:30–17:30; emergency and inpatient 24 h[1] |
outpatient, inpatient and emergency care |
+86 21 6129 3000 (24-h hotline); shanghai@rafflesmedical.com[18] |
| DeltaHealth |
Qingpu |
109 Xule Rd |
EN, JA, MS |
Mon–Sat 8–12, 13–21; emergency 24 h |
cardiovascular and oncology, plus general departments |
400 821 0277 (international desk); appointment@deltahealth.com.cn[13] |
| East International Medical Center |
Pudong |
551 South Pudong Rd |
EN, FR, DE, JA, ES, RU, HI |
Outpatients daily 9–17; emergency 24 h |
internal medicine, OB/GYN, pediatrics, dermatology |
International desk +86 21 5879 9999, +86 150 0019 0899; care@seimc.com.cn[14] |
The directory also lists smaller private hospitals and clinics — among them SinoUnited, Guang-Ci Memorial, Hexin, Artemed, Towako, a gamma knife hospital and Jiahui and Parkway clinics — and other public entries such as Shanghai Tongji Hospital and Shanghai Children's Hospital[1]. Shanghai International Medical Center, in Pudong's international medical park, is not in the directory; it says it manages care to JCI standards, which is not the same as JCI accreditation, and lists +86 21 6023 6000 for appointments[40].
Specialty hospitals by need
- Eyes (ophthalmology). Shanghai Eye Hospital runs an International Medical Center in Building 20, 1440 Hongqiao Rd (Changning) — cataract, glaucoma, fundus and ocular-surface care; EN/JA; +86 186 0217 0757[24]. Privately, EuroEyes (5F, Jinmao Tower podium; refractive, cataract and presbyopia surgery; 400 720 7999)[25] and Aier Eye, whose English page says direct billing is available[26]. See common eye surgeries.
- Skin (dermatology). Shanghai Skin Disease Hospital: 1278 Baode Rd (Jing'an) and a branch at 238 Wuyi Rd (Changning); general and surgical dermatology, photomedicine, medical aesthetics; +86 21 3680 3100[27].
- Women, pregnancy and fertility (OB/GYN, fertility). Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University: Huangpu and Yangpu campuses; +86 21 3318 9900 ext 8538; email bookings accepted[22]. International Peace Maternity & Child Health Hospital: Xuhui (+86 21 6426 5988) and Fengxian (+86 21 6447 0399) desks; JA/KO/EN/FR; assisted reproduction and maternal-fetal medicine listed[23]. Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital: East Campus desk at 2699 West Gaoke Rd, +86 181 1726 4038; West Campus +86 181 1722 4228[1].
- Children (pediatrics). Shanghai Children's Medical Center: 13–14F, 101 Beiyuan Rd (Pudong), weekdays to 19:30 and weekends; childhood blood cancers and congenital heart disease listed; +86 21 3862 6948[20]. Children's Hospital of Fudan University: International Medical Center, 1F Building 2, 399 Wanyuan Rd (Minhang); +86 21 6493 1831; 24-hour emergency services[21]. See bringing children for treatment.
- Cancer and proton or heavy-ion therapy (oncology). Shanghai Proton and Heavy Ion Center: 4365 Kangxin Hwy (Pudong); EN/JA/DE; +86 21 3829 6600[28]. Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center is not in the directory; it has Xuhui (270 Dong'an Rd) and Pudong (4333 Kangxin Hwy) campuses, switchboard +86 21 6417 5590[29]. For a review of existing records, see cancer second opinion.
- Dental (dental). The Ninth People's listing covers implants, orthodontics, endodontics, prosthodontics and periodontology[11]; Tongji University Stomatology Hospital (Alley 399, Middle Yanchang Rd; +86 21 6652 8783) lists prosthodontics, endodontics, periodontal and pediatric dentistry[30]. Private: Arrail Dental, Shanghai Tower. See finding a dentist in China.
- TCM (tcm). Longhua Hospital: 2F, Building 1, 725 South Wanping Rd; EN/FR/JA; acupuncture, tuina, rehabilitation; booking by email at lhyyzhyl@126.com[31]. Yueyang Hospital: 110 Ganhe Rd (Hongkou); EN/FR/JA/KO; +86 21 6516 1782 ext 3223[32]. See your first TCM visit.
How to choose by need
- Start from the condition. A single-organ problem (eyes, skin, pregnancy, a child) often points to a specialty hospital; a complex or multi-system case to a large general hospital. Choosing a hospital walks through the logic.
- Check that the international desk lists your department. A hospital having a department does not mean its international desk books it.
- Match the payment. If you need direct billing, check the insurer list before anything else.
- Check hours and location. Desks range from weekday-only to 24 hours, and Shanghai is large: Qingpu and Lingang are far from downtown.
- Compare two or three. Use /compare and send the same summary to each.
Booking: which channel works
- Email the international desk. Zhongshan (reply within one workday), the OB/GYN Hospital, Jiahui, Shanghai Eye Hospital (reply within 24 hours) and Longhua (within two workdays) say they accept email bookings[3][22][12][24][31]; Huadong, Shanghai Children's Medical Center and Yueyang list an email address but say it is not for bookings[6][20][32]. Our inquiry letter tool drafts a bilingual first message.
- Phone. Call during listed hours; from abroad, use the +86 21 numbers rather than 400 hotlines.
- Suishenban app. In the city's government app, Healthcare → Registration Reservation; on a first visit add a patient as "Foreigner" and confirm with an SMS code. The city warns you may need some basic Chinese[36].
- At the counter. Register with your passport and you receive a hospital card for later visits; walk-ins are accepted, but appointments are recommended for specialists[36][35].
- Private hospitals run 24-hour appointment lines (United Family, Jiahui, Raffles)[1][12][18].
Payment and insurance direct billing
Most directory entries end with a list of insurers providing direct payment. Zhongshan's names 25, including MSH China, Ping An Health, Bupa (listed as British United Provident Association), Allianz Partners and International SOS[3]; DeltaHealth's lists more than 50[13]. Huashan's international center says it has cash-free direct-pay contracts with more than 30 insurers and third-party administrators[38]. On the private side, United Family direct-bills over 40 global insurers[15], Parkway works with 60+ providers[17], and Raffles direct-bills primary insurance only[19]. Before treatment, confirm your insurer, your plan and the exact campus and department; otherwise pay and claim later with itemized invoices. See insurance for treatment abroad and payments.
Emergencies
Dial 120 or go to the nearest public hospital emergency department — the city notes these run around the clock, every day[35]. Most international desks keep office hours; Huadong and Shanghai General list 24 hours[6][7]. The city also notes that private facilities often do not run standard emergency services, though leading ones have 24-hour urgent care[35]; United Family publishes 24-hour emergency hotlines for both hospitals[15][16]. Read emergencies in China and carry the emergency card.
One hospital, several campuses: confirm the door
Many Shanghai hospitals run several campuses, and the international desk may sit at only one. The Sixth People's has separate Xuhui and Lingang desks[8]; the OB/GYN Hospital, the International Peace hospital and the Skin Disease Hospital each list two sites[22][23][27]; the Cancer Center has Xuhui and Pudong campuses[29]. Renji, which has four campuses, runs its international desk at 33 Beiyuan Rd in Pudong[41][42]; a 2024 city report also mentions an international outpatient department at its north branch[33], and the city's Japanese-language portal, updated in August 2025, gives a separate booking line, +86 21 6838 3210[42]. Even the directory can disagree with itself: Yueyang's summary and detail pages give different floors and phone numbers[1][32]. Ask for the campus, building and floor in writing, plus the Chinese address for the taxi.
Limits to keep in mind
- Listings date mainly from late 2024; phones, hours and insurer lists change, so re-check before travel.
- A listed language may mean a coordinator or interpreter rather than a doctor who consults in it — ask which.
- Senior specialists are in heavy demand[39]; ask whether a named doctor is confirmed before you book flights.
- Complex treatment may need several visits; plan follow-up at home before you commit.
Next steps
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