Orthopaedic Care in China: Hospitals, Access and Published Prices
骨科、脊柱
Which hospitals in China list joint, spine and sports medicine departments, how international patients can reach them, and what official sources say about prices — with a source for every fact.
Written by ChinaMedMap Editorial TeamSources checked 2 October 2026Access and logistics information — not medically reviewed
Quick answer. International patients can reach orthopaedic care through the international unit of a large general hospital with joint, spine or sports medicine departments. Official figures exist for implants: after national procurement the average artificial hip costs about ¥7,000 and the average artificial knee a little over ¥5,000 in public hospitals. The operation and the stay are charged on top, so ask for a written estimate.[3],[4]
When you contact a hospital, name the joint or the part of the spine concerned, so the international unit can route your records to the right sub-department.
Main building of Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing.
Compare hospitals in our directory
The table lists every hospital we profile whose official department directory includes bone, joint, spine or sports medicine departments. The first number is how many such departments it lists; the full list, with its source, is on each hospital's profile.
Language and billing entries come from each hospital's international unit page or a government directory, as cited on its profile. "Not yet confirmed" means we have not found it on an official source — it does not mean the service is unavailable.
Hospitals in our directory with bone, joint or spine departments — sources on each hospital's profile
Prices are in Chinese yuan (RMB), as the hospital or the government published them, with the date of the list. They are list prices, not quotes. International and special-needs departments of public hospitals are market-priced: each hospital sets and publishes its own prices for them.
For orthopaedics the official figures are implant prices. China buys high-value implants for public hospitals through national bulk procurement, and the government publishes the average price before and after. These are prices of the device alone; they do not include the operation, anaesthesia or the hospital stay. We have not found a hospital we profile that publishes an all-in price for a hip or knee replacement or for spine surgery.
Average implant prices in public hospitals after national bulk procurement (device only)[3],[4],[10],[11]
Implant
Before
After
Source
Artificial hip joint
¥35,000
About ¥7,000
National Healthcare Security Administration, May 2024
Artificial knee joint
¥32,000
A little over ¥5,000
National Healthcare Security Administration, May 2024
Spine: thoracolumbar posterior fixation and fusion set
¥33,000
About ¥4,500
China Daily, September 2022
Spine: vertebroplasty set
¥27,000
About ¥1,100
China Daily, September 2022
Sports medicine: PEEK suture anchor (each)
¥5,600
A little over ¥1,300
People's Daily, December 2023
Consultation fees at international units
Published consultation fees give a sense of scale. The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University lists an international medical consultation at ¥500 to ¥1,200 per visit by doctor grade (June 2026). Peking University People's Hospital states ¥1,000 to ¥4,000 per expert consultation for international patients and ¥1,000 to ¥1,500 per day for an inpatient ward.
Start with the hospital's international unit rather than general registration: it is the part of the hospital set up for international patients, and it can tell you which orthopaedic sub-departments it works with. You can also send ChinaMedMap a request and a person on our team will contact the hospital for you.
Foreign patients seen in international departments pay by commercial insurance or out of pocket; China's public medical insurance does not apply. Ask whether your insurer has a direct-billing arrangement with the hospital.
Send your records before you travel, so the hospital can tell you whether it can see you and what it expects the visit to involve. See Preparing Medical Records and International Patient Planning for visas and longer stays.
Questions to ask the international unit before you book
Ask
Why it matters
Which sub-department would see me: joint, spine, sports medicine or trauma?
Large hospitals split orthopaedics into several departments.
Which images and reports do you need before you can say whether you can see me?
The hospital needs your records to say whether it can see you.
Can you give a written estimate that lists the implant, the operation and the stay separately?
Official figures cover the implant only; the rest is charged on top.
How long should I plan to stay, including rehabilitation?
It affects your visa, accommodation and who travels with you.
Can you bill my insurer directly, and is a deposit required?
Direct billing depends on the insurer and the hospital's agreements.
Questions international patients ask
How much does a hip or knee replacement cost in China?
We have not found a hospital we profile that publishes an all-in price. Official figures cover the implant: after national procurement the average artificial hip is about ¥7,000 and the average artificial knee a little over ¥5,000 in public hospitals. The operation and the stay are charged on top, and international departments set their own prices.[3],[4]
Do foreigners pay more than Chinese patients?
For standard services in a public hospital, Beijing's official guide says foreigners pay the same fees as residents. International and special-needs departments are market-priced, and each hospital publishes its own list.[5],[6]
Will my insurance pay?
China's public medical insurance does not cover foreign patients in international departments. Some hospitals settle directly with commercial insurers, so check with your insurer and the hospital's international unit before you travel.[7]
This page covers how to access care and what we could confirm from official sources. It does not say whether a treatment is right for you — only a qualified clinician who has reviewed your case can do that. ChinaMedMap is not an emergency service.
References
科室介绍 — 中日友好医院China-Japan Friendship Hospital · Chinese · retrieved 24 September 2026
科室导航（学科介绍 / 重点科室）— 中山大学附属第六医院The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University · Chinese · retrieved 24 September 2026
关于印发《深化医疗服务价格改革试点方案》的通知（医保发〔2021〕41号）National Healthcare Security Administration and seven other departments · Chinese · dated 2021-08-31 · retrieved 2 October 2026
Hospitals in our directory with bone, joint or spine departments
Each of these hospitals lists at least one such department in its official department directory (sources on each profile). A listed department shows what the hospital offers in general; ask its international unit whether it arranges this care for international patients.
Tell us what you need. A person on our team reviews every request and replies with providers that may fit. We share your details with a provider only after you agree.
