Keep your own copies of medical records, test reports, and imaging
Chinese law gives patients the right to inspect and copy their records. This includes outpatient and inpatient records, laboratory reports, imaging, surgery and anesthesia records, pathology, and medical bills. Hospitals have a designated service and may charge copying costs only. These documents matter when changing hospitals, seeking another opinion, claiming private insurance, or resolving a dispute.
What it takes
Requesting access does not itself cost money, but hospitals may charge a published copying cost. Remembering to obtain records after each episode of care takes effort.
What you may gain
The regulations expressly recognize patients' rights to inspect and copy their medical records, including outpatient records, inpatient histories, laboratory reports, medical imaging, surgery and anesthesia records, pathology, and medical expenses. These materials support continuity of care, second opinions, insurance claims, and evidence in disputes.
Context & considerations
Use the designated records window; you do not need to persuade an individual doctor. Article 16 provides a checklist: outpatient and inpatient records, temperature charts, orders, laboratory results, imaging, surgery and anesthesia records, pathology, nursing records, and itemized charges. File them chronologically. Discharge summaries, operation records, pathology reports, and key images are particularly useful. Keep chronic disease measurements together in one log; see chapter 16.
Research & references
State Council (2018). Regulations on the Prevention and Handling of Medical Disputes, Order No. 701, Article 16. Patients may inspect and copy outpatient and inpatient records, temperature charts, orders, laboratory reports, imaging, consent forms for special examinations and surgery, surgery and anesthesia records, pathology, nursing records, medical costs, and other records specified by the national health authority. Institutions must provide copying and stamp the copies as certified; any copying charges must be published. Close relatives of deceased patients may exercise these rights. Article 15 prohibits alteration, fabrication, concealment, destruction, or seizure of medical records. https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2018-08/31/content_5318057.htm; National Health and Family Planning Commission and State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine (2013). Provisions on medical record management in healthcare institutions, 2013 edition. Institutions must designate a department or full- or part-time staff to accept copying requests; copying takes place with the applicant present and copies receive a certification stamp. http://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2014/content_2600084.htm