Emergency treatment must not wait because you have no money, identity documents, or known identity
China has an emergency medical assistance fund for urgent treatment of patients whose identity cannot be established or who cannot pay. Hospitals must not refuse or delay rescue, and emergency ambulance services must not refuse dispatch because of payment. Do not stay home through a dangerous emergency or avoid calling because you lack money. This fund covers emergency treatment; subsequent inpatient costs use health insurance and other medical assistance arrangements.
What it takes
Nothing to request emergency assistance.
What you may gain
Eligible patients are those in China with urgent, serious, or critical illness or injury who need emergency care but whose identity is unknown or who cannot afford the relevant costs. The fund covers emergency costs for unidentified patients and unpaid emergency costs for identified patients unable to pay. All healthcare institutions and staff must provide timely, effective rescue and may not refuse, evade, or delay it for any reason. China's national prehospital emergency number is 120. Emergency centers may not refuse, evade, or delay prehospital care because of dispatch arrangements or payment problems. Transfers follow proximity, urgency, professional capability, and consideration of patient preference. The emergency assistance system dates from 2013 and applies nationally in China.
Context & considerations
The fund covers the emergency-care portion. Treatment comes first; afterward the institution applies to the fund, rather than the patient collecting cash at a counter. Existing health insurance is used as applicable. Provincial procedures and limits vary. Proximity and urgency come before preference, so an ambulance may take you to the nearest suitable facility rather than your chosen hospital. If subsequent out-of-pocket costs remain excessive, explore medical assistance in chapter 7, entry 10.
Research & references
General Office of the State Council (2013). Guiding opinions on establishing an emergency medical assistance system, Guobanfa [2013] No. 15. https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2013-03/01/content_6069.htm; National Health and Family Planning Commission (2014). Measures for the administration of prehospital emergency medical services, Order No. 3, Articles 13, 22, 23, and 25. http://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2014/content_2580977.htm