Guide
Preparing your medical records
A clear file gets a faster and better answer. Hospitals often cannot give an opinion without it.
Last reviewed October 31, 2026. Rules change, so confirm with the official source before you act.
What to gather
- A one-page summary from your doctor: diagnosis, stage or severity, and treatment so far
- Pathology and lab reports, with dates
- Operation notes and hospital discharge summaries
- Your current medications with doses, and any allergies
- Other conditions, including heart, lung and kidney problems
- What you want to know from the hospital, in your own words
Scans
Ask your imaging center for the original files on a disc or by download, usually in a format called DICOM. Photos of a screen and printed reports often are not enough for a specialist to review.
Translation
Many international offices accept English. Ask first, because translating the whole file can be expensive and may not be needed. Keep the original beside any translation, and have key terms such as drug names checked by someone with medical training.
Sending records safely
- Do not put full records in a first enquiry or a public chat. Our enquiry form is for a short summary only.
- Send records only by the secure method agreed with us or the hospital.
- You decide who receives your records. We need your permission before sharing them with a hospital.
- Chinese privacy law treats medical information as sensitive personal information. Expect the hospital to ask for your specific consent.
Before you leave China
Ask for your discharge summary, operation note, medication list and images in English, and get them before you go to the airport. It is much harder to obtain them later.