Don't choose by test count

Most people ask which package has the most tests. The real question is who reviews your history, explains results, and handles follow-up after you leave.

“First confirm who reviews your medical history, who explains the results and what happens if you need follow-up after returning home.”

Screening isn't diagnosis

A health check-up is preventive screening for people without symptoms. If you have persistent pain, weight loss, or unusual bleeding, you need a specialist consultation instead.

Tell them about symptoms upfront

Some patients hide symptoms because they worry booking will get complicated. But leaving out information may result in the wrong type of appointment being arranged.

Who decides which tests fit

Age, sex, family history, smoking, and previous screening all affect what's appropriate. Ask if a doctor reviews your questionnaire and whether the package can be adjusted.

Test numbers mean little alone

A larger package may sometimes be appropriate. But the length of the list, on its own, tells you very little about whether it suits your situation.

“A larger package may sometimes be appropriate. The length of the list, on its own, tells you very little.”

What the price actually covers

Terms like 'executive' and 'comprehensive' have no universal meaning. Ask for an itemised list showing consultations, specialist interpretation, reports, and English support.

Follow-up sits outside the price

If a scan reveals something requiring another examination, specialist appointment, or biopsy, that work will normally sit outside the original price.

More tests bring more uncertainty

A broader package can mean more false alarms, false reassurance, and incidental findings that would never have caused harm. No screening test is perfect.

Whole-body CT lacks evidence

The US FDA states that whole-body CT screening has not been shown to meet generally accepted criteria for effective screening in people without symptoms.

MRI isn't automatically better

The American College of Radiology has found insufficient evidence to recommend whole-body MRI for people without symptoms, relevant risk factors, or family history.

The scan needs a clear reason

Ask what the imaging is intended to detect, why it's relevant to you, and what happens if it produces an uncertain finding. The explanation matters more than the equipment.

Send a concise medical timeline

Include current conditions, previous operations, medications, allergies, and relevant family history. Add recent lab results and imaging reports with dates.

Don't translate everything at once

Before paying to translate a large file, ask which records are relevant and what format the provider accepts. A short, accurate translation may be more useful.

Plan around the appointment day

A comprehensive check-up after a long-haul flight may mean arriving dehydrated and sleep-deprived. A same-evening return flight creates problems if an examination runs late.

Results may arrive after you leave

The examinations may fit into a single day, but not every report will necessarily be ready before you leave China. Confirm delivery method and timing.

English support varies by department

An appointment being available in English doesn't guarantee every lab result or radiology report will be issued in English. Language support can differ between departments.

Get images in DICOM format

Ask whether the hospital can supply original images electronically in DICOM format. A few screenshots may not be enough if another radiologist needs to review them later.

Translation isn't interpretation

Translators can convey what a report says, but only a qualified clinician can explain what the findings mean for the patient.

Who handles unexpected findings

Establish who reviews the complete results and whether there will be a consultation rather than just a report uploaded to a portal. Ask how urgent findings are communicated.

Arrange follow-up before you leave

The CDC advises medical travellers to arrange follow-up care and obtain copies of overseas records. Ask your regular doctor what documents they can review before departure.