Nearly all major foreign-funded companies or institutes in China are members of the International SOS, the largest international medical organization. The organization has network coordinating services from telephone medical advice to air ambulance evacuation services for corporate and individual travelers.

International SOS, which co-ordinates with 165 hospitals throughout China, opened its first recommended clinic in Shanghai on Monday-- the Huanyu Health Care Center at the Huashan Hospital.

John Williams, managing director of International SOS China, told Xinhua that many Chinese hospitals are well equipped and can offer good services and high quality inpatient wards which is why many foreigners are willing to receive medical treatment in China, including complicated surgery and long-term rehabilitation or convalescent care.

When SOS first entered China in 1989, its members preferred to go to hospitals in Hong Kong or Japan for even minor ailments likecolds.

There are now over 60,000 foreigners with permits to work in China, and many more live or study in the country. There are about 100,000 foreigners living in Shanghai alone.

According to the Ministry of Health, foreigners are given the same medical services as Chinese residents. Chinese hospitals do not make additional charges on foreign patients.

Quite a number of hospitals in big Chinese cities like Beijing and Shanghai lead medical science in Asia. They see the ability to satisfy foreign patients as an edge on the medical market. Major hospitals in Beijing and Shanghai have special departments and wards to give medical care to foreigners.

America Dupont's Shanghai subsidiary arranges an annual visit for their new foreign employees to the company's contracted healthcenter in Huanyu, which is now an SOS recommended clinic which will ensure the employees high quality health care in China.

(Xinhua News Agency May 21, 2002)