Expat patients praise one-stop care at intl. medical center

Expat patients working in South China praised a new international medical service model that combines bilingual treatment, multidisciplinary care and personalized assistance, according to recent patient accounts at the International Medical Center at the Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University.

The facility, located in Guangming District, is the area’s first international medical center and positions itself as a healthcare option for expatriates living in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

The Batt family from the U.K., who have lived and worked in Shenzhen for years, said multiple family members received treatment at the center. The father recovered from sports-related knee pain following orthopedic care, while the children’s abdominal and foot conditions were addressed through coordinated consultations across departments.

Shared medical records and appointment scheduling reduced waiting times, and English-language communication and direct billing with international insurance simplified the process, the family said.

An American couple, the Nelsons, reported a similar experience. After a thyroid nodule was detected during a routine checkup, the wife underwent a multidisciplinary evaluation that ruled out malignancy. Her husband received a personalized treatment plan for long-term blood pressure fluctuations from cardiovascular specialists. The couple said completing examinations and treatment at a single facility saved significant time and effort.

Hospital officials said the center, operating since August 2023, follows international medical service standards and emphasizes patient-centered care. Medical staff are trained to communicate professionally in English, supported by multilingual volunteers, while complex cases can be evaluated through rapid multidisciplinary consultations designed to provide “one visit, multi-specialty assessment.”

Patients can book appointments online or by phone and are guided throughout their visits by coordinators, reducing average treatment time by about half, the hospital said. The center has also partnered with multiple international insurers to enable direct payment settlement.