Job Discussion Forums

[abusalam4]

I will be leaving for China this year for teaching in Quzhou, Province Zhejiang, at a College. I will come by a Z visa that needs to be "transfomed" in a residence permit within 30 days after arrival.
The competent Gong An as a rule will require a medical to be taken at special hospitals.

I have had a similar procedure in 2003, and my experience with these special places for foreigners medical check were 100 % negative for several reasons because they do not seem to know enough about the need to be 100 % clean. And I will not want to take any risk for my health.

So, if I go I will only do if I can take the medical test in my home country under safer conditions than I would find in China at these places.

Are there any people around here with similar experience? I would like to learn about your ways of working around this problem by taking your medical in your own country in lieu of another medical test in China. Have you been successful, and if so, under what conditions?

Any input would be highly appreciated! Thanks in advance.

[Ariadne]

I agree that medical care in China can be scary, but getting a medical exam in China is not the same as getting treatment. The exams are quite cursory. The only invasive procedure is the blood test. Bring your own needles if you're worried. You can get the exam done at home, but there is a good chance you'll just have to repeat it when you get to China. I know several people who had everything done at home, got all the xrays, all the tests, all the right seals and stamps from all the right agencies, and didn't have to retake it in China. Other folks had to retake it. Just like everything else, it depends.. on where, when, who, how, etc. It was much cheaper for me to take the exam in China than it would have been at home. Don't let the medical exam be the reason you pass up a job.

.

[tw]

See sticky "Overseas Medical Check----Z Visa".

Did the school ask you to complete a medical exam and have the result mailed to them in order to get you the paperwork needed for you to papply for your Z visa. I don't know if that's a standard procedure yet, but from personal experience, that medical form which the employer would send you CAN be enough. Simply mail them the original and keep a copy for yourself. When you arrive in China, give the copy to the FAO and tell them that it SHOULD be good enough since it is a Chinese government-issued form. They would be happy because they can just get the clinic to put a red chop on it, save hundreds of kuai, and you can avoid a medical exam in China.

Mind you, I don't know if this strategy works everywhere in China. It worked for me in 2005 when I went to teach in Inner Mongolia.

[Mister Al]

Ariadne, I agree. I've had 3 or 4 health checks in various parts of China and all were absolutely fine. Bring your own needles for the blood test if you're really that worried. No other invasive procedures, as has already been pointed out

[cj750]

[abusalam4]

I have downloaded the prescribed medical forms they normally require for this sort of thing in China. And I will get the medical done in my own country and will then take this form to the Chinese Embassy for authentification.

I have mailed the FAO of my school and told them about it. And I have asked to check with their local office of Gong An (Bureau of Public Peace) whether this would be acceptable to them. Otherwise, I will not go.

In 2003, they almost infected me with SARS because of their recylced needles they used, and since then I am not willing to give them a single piece of trust. After all, I am responsible for my health, and I will never do anything to infect myself.

The standards of their medical knowledge and procedures are second or even third class and are certainly NOT in line with international standards - is it because they are still a developing country?

One of my former colleagues suffred from a sexually transmitted disease 20 years ago that had been successfully treated at that time. That he did still can be seen in his blood today which is normal in this case. It does not mean that a person is still sufferiung from such a disease. Every medical doctor in the West does know that and it would be not sign of alarm. It is only in China where they are sub-standard in this and would ask a person to leave the country. While at the same time, they are bei g "strict" in such unfounded cases, they are unable to follow standard procedures when taking blood with the result that a foreigner must fear for the safety of his health!

Such practice is not only contradictory in itself, it also shows that here again they must take some efforts to catch up with the rest of the world. Foreign teachers should not fall victim to their sub-standard medical knowledge and practices; it is for them to change this. As long as this does not happen, I have no reason to trust them in this. They can keep their SARS and anything like that for themselves, I do NOT need it!

Their procedure is, to put it midly, humilating!

I have learnt my lesson and will only follow the conclusions to be drawn from it!

Anyway, thanks for your input!
May all of you have a great time!

[tw]

[Ariadne]

abusalam4-- Can you tell us how you were almost infected with SARS? You mentioned recycled needles. That's certainly a big concern, and one that could expose you to a variety of things. Was there something else that led you to believe you had been exposed to SARS by the medical facility?

.

[7969]

[Itsme]

U know what. I aint buying the whole IN MY COUNTRY IS SAFER thing. It seems like some kinda WWII propaganda or something.
In reality, the hospitals, the doctors, the ......... are all really good.

I went to the eye doctor in Shanghai and they were using more highly advanced equipment than in the US.

I went to get a medical exam in little dinky Xiamen and the process was more efficient, the equipment was more hi-tech, the staff was more gentle etc.

Do it in China.

If you do it in the US you will just end up paying 10X the price to have grumpy Geraldine, who hasn't had a smoke break in 6 hours, prodding you with needles while grumbling under her breath.

[cj750]

I have seen some really dirty hosp in china..but most have been at least par..and I had my medical done at a clinic run by the city of seattle..cost ..nothing..

[abusalam4]

[quote="Ariadne"]abusalam4-- Can you tell us how you were almost infected with SARS? You mentioned recycled needles. That's certainly a big concern, and one that could expose you to a variety of things. Was there something else that led you to believe you had been exposed to SARS by the medical facility?
.[quote]

I did my medical in a dirty city called Fushun in Northeastern China in 2003. This was the time when the SARS epedimy was a big problem in this and other parts of China. The "nurse" at that facility for foreigners (or I even doubt whether this was a nurse, a real nurse should know better) tried to take my blood but I observed that she took a needle that was not fresh and not packed. That person also did not care to change her gloves. I insisted that she do but in vain. In consequence, I refused to submit to the further procedure. In return, they refused to grant me the green little book. Two days later, I heard that about a scandal at the same place where sonmeone was infected with SARS because of a similar things with needles. I only know from hearsay, but it is not my business. I like China in some way but I certainly do not like it enough to take risks for my health because ofd such sub-standard procedure. I am sure ifd I had not refused to take the test, the same could have happend to me. I am fine and safe here where I am, and if the Chinese insist on taking me through the same hassle again, my answer will be clearly "NO, llok for someone else!"
I returned to my country in 2002 shortly after, and here it was I was checked medically for SARS but the result was fortunately negative.
The Chinese can keep their SARS, hepatitis and whatever they have got. As long as the concerned authorities over there follow sub-standard procedure and do things contrary to public health safety, I will blame them - and they do deserve to be blamed! No other nightmare because of them!!!!!!!

[tw]

Don't take this the wrong way, but I sense a lot of anger within you towards China (especially its medical standard). So IMHO, you are better off not to come here again or your stay here will probably be miserable.

BTW, hadn't you done enough homework about Fushun before going there?

[Mister Al]

Agree with tw. Why do you want to return to somewhere that seems to p*ss you off and one which you like to point the finger at.

[cj750]

I don't know bout racist...them is just an all inclusive term....but I do think that the op will limit his ability to get a job in china by his attitude towards the process and the abilities..but this is what the op seems to be aiming for...