Grade-A accreditation explained. Diagnostic modules detailed. Costs compared. The complete UK patient guide to private health screening at a Chinese hospital.
Before booking private health screening in China, the most common question from UK patients is: "How do I know the hospital is trustworthy?" The answer is in the accreditation: Grade-A (三甲) is China's highest and most rigorous hospital designation.
China's hospital grading system (三级医院 — Three-Tier Hospitals) uses a three-level structure. Within the top tier (三级, Third Level — the most advanced hospitals), Grade-A (甲) is the highest sub-designation. Fewer than 10% of Chinese hospitals qualify for this status.
To earn and maintain Grade-A status, hospitals are assessed across: medical staff qualifications and specialist ratios, equipment standards and maintenance protocols, patient safety and quality management systems, research output and teaching capacity, and governance and compliance infrastructure.
Our partner hospital — Chongqing Medical University Second Affiliated Hospital (重庆医科大学附属第二医院) — has held Grade-A status since the system was established in 1989. It is a state-backed teaching hospital founded in 1892 with over 130 years of continuous medical history.
For context: Grade-A in China is the equivalent of NHS Foundation Trust status combined with ISO accreditation and university teaching hospital designation. It is not a marketing label — it is an independently audited, government-administered designation.
China's highest hospital designation. Independently audited by the National Health Commission. Under 10% of hospitals qualify.
One of China's longest-operating teaching hospitals. 134 years of continuous medical practice and institutional knowledge.
International standard for medical laboratory quality. All reference ranges align with IFCC and WHO standards. Results accepted globally.
Operated under Chongqing Medical University. State-funded, state-regulated. Not a commercial clinic.
Dedicated international patient coordination team. Full English reports standard. Thousands of international visitors annually.
Private health screening in China covers the same diagnostic procedures as UK private hospitals — at Grade-A standard, using international equipment, with results in English.
Grade-A hospitals in China purchase from the same international manufacturers as the UK's private hospitals. The equipment used in your screening is the same as you would find at Bupa, Nuffield or London Bridge Hospital.
3.0 Tesla MRI provides the highest resolution available for brain, spine, cardiovascular and musculoskeletal imaging. The same specification used at leading UK private hospitals.
64-slice CT imaging for chest, abdomen and pelvis. Cardiac CT calcium scoring for cardiovascular risk stratification. Low-dose protocols reduce radiation exposure.
Advanced cardiac ultrasound for echocardiogram, valvular assessment and cardiac function analysis. Used in combination with ECG and stress testing.
ISO 15189 accredited pathology laboratory using Roche cobas® systems. The same platform used in UK NHS and private labs. Results within 4 hours.
Full ophthalmology assessment including retinal OCT imaging, fundus photography and intraocular pressure measurement. Detects early signs of glaucoma and macular degeneration.
Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) for bone density measurement and body composition analysis. Standard for osteoporosis screening and joint replacement assessment.
Detailed answers to the most common questions about private health screening in China.
Grade-A (三甲, Sān Jiǎ) is China's highest hospital accreditation tier. Hospitals must meet stringent criteria covering medical staff qualifications, equipment standards, patient safety protocols, quality management systems and research capability. Fewer than 10% of Chinese hospitals hold this designation. It is the equivalent of the UK's NHS Foundation Trust status combined with ISO accreditation. Our partner hospital has held this status since 1989.
Grade-A hospitals use the same international equipment brands found in UK private hospitals. Our partner hospital operates Siemens 3.0T MRI scanners, GE 64-slice CT scanners, Siemens echocardiography equipment and Roche-certified pathology systems. Equipment is regularly updated and maintained to manufacturer standards.
Yes. Our partner hospital's pathology laboratory is ISO 15189 accredited — the international standard for medical laboratory quality. All results use internationally recognised reference ranges (IFCC, WHO standards) and are delivered in English with methodology notes that any UK lab can validate.
The screening itself takes 1–2 days at the hospital, depending on the package. We recommend a minimum 4-day trip: one day arrival/preparation, 1–2 days screening, and one day for results consultation before return. Many patients extend their stay with a Yangtze River wellness cruise — combining screening with one of China's most iconic journeys.
Yes. During your free consultation call, we discuss your health concerns, family history and what you're currently waiting for on the NHS. We then recommend the most appropriate modules. You can select from our standard packages or build a bespoke combination. See our screening packages page or our pricing page for details.
A free consultation is the first step. Tell us what you're concerned about, what you've been waiting for, and we'll explain exactly what private health screening in China would look like for you — costs, timeline, modules.
Also explore: NHS Alternative Screening · Longevity Screening Abroad · Yangtze Wellness Cruise
In-depth guides on health screening, hospitals and medical tourism in China