The healthcare guide for English-speaking expatriates, published
by the Shenzhen Daily on Tuesday, has been highly
acclaimed by foreigners living in the city, with some saying they
will keep it as a handbook.
Many expat patients visiting the priority clinical center at
Beijing University Shenzhen Hospital over the past two days filled
in the time in waiting rooms by reading the medical supplement,
according to nurses at the center.
David Arthor, an English teacher with SCIE International School
who was having a medical examination at the clinical center
yesterday, said he had started reading the medical guide at home
Tuesday. Many expat teachers at his school had gone to buy the
newspaper Tuesday morning after they read a notice in the previous
day's Shenzhen Daily about the medical supplement. He said
many thought the medical guide was worth keeping for reference.
"This is a very important topic. It's what we care about and
need to know and it was interesting to read," Arthor said. "The
reports were well-rounded. There are both government policies and
interesting medical experiences of expats, and I especially like
the road map. It's great!”
"It was also very helpful to list the hospitals and clinics
below the map, with their phone numbers," said Adele, Arthor's
wife. "It was very considerate of you to make clear whether they
(the hospitals) have English speakers. You know, it's necessary for
us to know if there would be an English speaker on the other end to
answer the phone. Also, I suggest setting up an English emergency
hotline, as mentioned by your interviewees in the reports. To sum
up, you did a good job."
The Arthors asked how to apply for the comprehensive medical
insurance offered by the city government and said they would be
interested in knowing more about the types of medical insurance
offered by domestic and overseas insurance companies.
Jim Harpell, a teacher with International School of Sino-Canada,
thought Tuesday's supplement was an example of thorough and
detailed reportings. "It was done from different perspectives and
there are opinions from people of different age groups and
different walks of life," Harpell said. "It was very interesting to
read."
After it was published, the Shenzhen Daily received
several phone calls from expats who either expressed their
appreciation for the medical supplement or asked for more
information. Some asked the newspaper staff to recommend a hospital
that would be best in treating a particular illness.
The Shenzhen branch of AIG General China Ltd. also called the
newspaper after reading the supplement to say the company had
medical insurance policies specially designed for expats.
The company said AIG GlobalHealth Expatriate Medical Insurance,
newly launched by the company in cooperation with GlobalHealth, a
leading medical insurance provider, is well-received in other major
Chinese cities.
Expats who have lived in China for less than five years are
eligible to buy policies which start at around US$1,000 per year
and with all-inclusive benefits limited to US$2,000,000.
(Shenzhen Daily November 1, 2007)
