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Children's health in Shanghai

Shanghai takes very good care of children, provided you have good insurance and know where to go: an international clinic for routine care, a children's hospital for serious cases, and your clinic's emergency number saved in your phone. Here is how it works, with verified addresses and the official list of French-speaking practitioners.

Verified on 30 October 2026

How the healthcare system works

Shanghai offers two worlds: the large public hospitals, excellent but run the Chinese way, often with an international or VIP department, and private international clinics, where staff speak English and sometimes French. Either way, you pay on the spot and insurance reimburses.

Good to know

  • There is no carte Vitale and no registered family doctor: without insurance covering hospitalisation, surgery and repatriation, care can be refused, even in an emergency. The embassy never covers these costs. Source
  • At a public hospital, you first register at the desk (guahao) with your passport and pay the registration fee; you get a hospital card to keep for later visits. Tests and medicines are paid for before they are done or dispensed. Source
  • Large public hospitals have VIP or international wings, easier for foreigners; international clinics (United Family, Parkway, Jiahui, AM-Sino...) work much like clinics in Europe. Source
  • The employed parent contributes to Chinese medical insurance, but many families rely on private international insurance, often provided by the employer, or on the CFE. Source

Addresses

  • Consulat général de France à Shanghai, liste des professionnels de santé

    The consulate publishes an indicative list of hospitals, clinics and doctors in Shanghai and its district, updated in December 2025, flagging French-speaking practitioners.

    Website Source

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Finding a paediatrician and following up the children

There is no registration with a local GP in Shanghai: you choose a clinic, international or the international department of a public hospital, and open a file there for each child.

Good to know

  • United Family's children's health centres, in Changning, Jing'an and Pudong, bring together general paediatricians and specialists (endocrinology, gastroenterology, development and behaviour). Source
  • Public children's hospitals (Shanghai Children's Hospital, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai Children's Medical Center) have VIP or international services for foreign families. Source
  • At the first appointment, bring the child's passport, health record and vaccination booklet: they will also be needed for kindergarten and school enrolment. Source
  • Appointments at public hospitals are booked online, notably through the Suishenban app (Healthcare section), which requires some basic Chinese. Source

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Emergencies and children's hospitals

120 calls an ambulance, but the operator speaks Chinese; many families save their clinic's emergency number in advance and head straight there.

Good to know

  • Emergency numbers: 120 ambulance, 110 police, 119 fire. Source
  • 120 runs in Chinese, but the operator can bring in an interpreter, with some delay. In the ambulance, you can usually choose the hospital, except in critical cases when you are taken to the nearest one. Source
  • United Family's emergency line (021 2216 3999) answers 24/7 and coordinates care; its Changning campus provides children's emergency care all year round. Source
  • Animal bite or scratch: the city has 24-hour rabies clinics in every district, including United Family and Jiahui. Source

Addresses

  • Shanghai United Family Hospital, campus de Changning

    Emergency

    699 Pingtang Lu, Changning

    Adult and children's emergencies 24/7, with a fast track for children; the international hospital best known to expat families.

    Website Source

  • Shanghai United Family Hospital, campus de Jing'an

    Emergency

    1314-1320 Beijing Xi Lu, Jing'an

    Children's, obstetric and gynaecological emergencies 24/7, in the city centre.

    Website Source

  • Shanghai Children's Hospital (Beijing Xi Lu et Putuo)

    Emergency

    1400 Beijing Xi Lu, Jing'an ; 355 Luding Lu, Putuo

    Public children's hospital, paediatric emergencies 24/7 at both sites; VIP department with 24-hour outpatient and inpatient care.

    Website Source

  • Children's Hospital of Fudan University, centre médical international

    Emergency

    399 Wanyuan Lu, Minhang

    A major public children's hospital, known for oncology and neurology; its international medical centre runs 24-hour emergencies. Well placed for families in Minhang and Hongqiao.

    Source

  • Shanghai Children's Medical Center

    Hospital

    1678 Dongfang Lu, Pudong

    A reference children's hospital (congenital heart disease, haematology, developmental paediatrics), with an international general practice department and multilingual volunteers.

    Source

  • Shanghai East International Medical Center

    Emergency

    551 South Pudong Road, bâtiment B, 23e et 24e étages, Pudong

    The international clinic of a public hospital, with 24-hour paediatric emergencies; a useful address on the Pudong side.

    Website Source

  • Jiahui International Hospital

    Emergency

    689 Guiping Lu, Xuhui

    International hospital open 24/7, multidisciplinary emergencies and an animal-bite clinic.

    Website Source

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French-speaking doctors, dentists and therapists

The French consulate general in Shanghai publishes an indicative list of health professionals in its district, updated in December 2025, flagging French-speaking practitioners. It is provided for information only, without engaging the administration's responsibility for the quality of care or fees. We list the practitioners most useful to families. The list includes no French-speaking psychologist: for therapy in French, use the Réseau PsyExpat directory, which lists French-speaking professionals practising abroad or online.

Good to know

  • The consulate's list covers private clinics, public hospitals, maternity units, dentists, the psychiatric hospital and pharmacies, with each practitioner's speciality and languages. Source
  • These practitioners mostly work in private clinics: you pay on the spot, then claim from your insurance. Source
  • The psychotherapists on the list are English speaking (United Family, FengShang and QuanKou clinics); the Shanghai Mental Health Center is the only hospital that handles psychiatric cases. Source

Addresses

  • Dr Nathanael Goldman

    Paediatrician

    Hongqiao, 155 Songyuan Lu

    Paediatrician, American Sino Women's and Children's Hospital; French and English speaking.

    Languages spoken : FR, EN

    Website Source

  • Dr Wang Xiumin

    Paediatrician

    Changning, 699 Pingtang Lu

    Paediatrician specialising in paediatric endocrinology (growth, puberty, thyroid), Shanghai United Family Hospital; French speaking, formerly a visiting scholar at the Lyon children's hospital.

    Languages spoken : FR, EN, ZH

    Website Source

  • Dr Sarai Nietvelt

    General practitioner

    Changning et Minhang (clinique FengShang, Huacao)

    Family physician, Shanghai United Family Hospital; French speaking, medical adviser to the French consulate general.

    Languages spoken : FR, EN

    Website Source

  • Dr Fei Gang

    Changning, 699 Pingtang Lu

    Ear, nose and throat specialist, including for children, Shanghai United Family Hospital; French speaking.

    Languages spoken : FR, EN, ZH

    Website Source

  • Dr Xie Feng

    Changning, 699 Pingtang Lu

    Orthopaedic surgeon, Shanghai United Family Hospital; French speaking.

    Languages spoken : FR, ZH

    Website Source

  • Dr Michaela Baum

    Xintiandi, 138 Middle Huaihai Road

    Ear, nose and throat specialist, Parkway MediCentre Xintiandi; French, English and German speaking.

    Languages spoken : FR, EN, DE

    Website Source

  • Dr Rida Solrac You

    Xintiandi, 138 Middle Huaihai Road

    Speech and language therapist, Parkway MediCentre Xintiandi; French, English and Portuguese speaking.

    Languages spoken : FR, EN, PT

    Website Source

  • Dr Jessica Zhu

    Xintiandi, 138 Middle Huaihai Road

    Gynaecologist, Parkway MediCentre Xintiandi; French speaking.

    Languages spoken : FR, ZH

    Website Source

  • Dr Cécile Huang

    Xintiandi, 138 Middle Huaihai Road

    Ultrasound specialist, Parkway MediCentre Xintiandi; French speaking.

    Languages spoken : FR, ZH

    Website Source

  • Dr Wang Le

    Paediatrician

    Huangpu, 197 Ruijin Er Lu

    Paediatrician, Shanghai Ruijin Hospital (public hospital); French speaking.

    Languages spoken : FR, ZH

    Source

  • Dr Yu Huiguo

    Paediatrician

    Huangpu, 197 Ruijin Er Lu

    Paediatrician, Shanghai Ruijin Hospital (public hospital); French speaking.

    Languages spoken : FR, ZH

    Source

  • Dr Yu Lin

    Putuo, 355 Luding Lu

    Paediatric urologist, Shanghai Children's Hospital; French speaking.

    Languages spoken : FR, ZH

    Website Source

  • French Dental Clinic

    Dentist

    Changning, Shanghai Mart, 2299 Yan'an Xi Lu

    Dental practice on the consulate's list, open Monday to Saturday, with an emergency number; website in French.

    Website Source

  • DDS Dental Care

    Dentist

    Xuhui, Pudong, Hongqiao, Huacao et Qingpu

    Network of dental practices on the consulate's list, including a clinic in Qingpu near the Eurocampus; languages not specified by the list.

    Website Source

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Pregnancy and maternity units

Giving birth in Shanghai is common for expats: international maternity units follow the pregnancy from start to finish, and major public hospitals have VIP services. Check early what your insurance covers.

Good to know

  • A birth must be declared at the French consulate within 30 days, with the clinic's delivery certificate; after that, you apply to transcribe the Chinese birth certificate. Source
  • For a baby born in China to foreign parents, the visa or residence permit application must be filed within 60 days of birth, with the baby's passport and medical birth certificate. Source
  • Maternity leave in Shanghai: 158 days for an employee (98 national days plus 60 additional days), plus 15 days for a difficult birth or for each additional baby. Source
  • A French-speaking gynaecologist and ultrasound specialist work at Parkway Xintiandi (see the list above). Source

Addresses

  • International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital

    Maternity

    910 Hengshan Lu (Xuhui) et 1961 Huashan Lu

    A major reference public maternity hospital, with 24-hour obstetric emergencies.

    Source

  • American Sino Women's and Children's Hospital

    Maternity

    155 Songyuan Lu, Hongqiao

    A private hospital dedicated to women and children, with emergency care; a French-speaking paediatrician works there.

    Website Source

  • Shanghai United Family Hospital, campus de Jing'an

    Maternity

    1314-1320 Beijing Xi Lu, Jing'an

    Maternity and paediatrics are United Family's roots in Shanghai; 24-hour obstetric and gynaecological emergencies.

    Website Source

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Pharmacies and medicines

You can find everything in Shanghai, but not always under the same name: bring a supply of your medicines and note the active ingredients (INN), which the pharmacist will recognise.

Good to know

  • Travel with your medicines in their original packaging, with a prescription written in INN, and check they are allowed in China; never buy medicines on the street (counterfeits). Source
  • Many medicines, such as antibiotics, require a prescription: the simplest is to see a doctor locally, as hospitals often dispense treatment from their own pharmacy. Source
  • Licensed pharmacies sell allergy and cold remedies over the counter; some large pharmacies are open 24/7. Source
  • Over-the-counter medicines can also be ordered online, sometimes delivered within half an hour (Meituan, big pharmacy apps): check the platform is licensed to sell medicines. Source

Addresses

  • Pharmacie No 1 de Shanghai

    Pharmacy

    616 Nanjing Dong Lu, Huangpu

    A large historic pharmacy on Nanjing Road, listed by the consulate.

    Source

  • Pharmacie Deyi

    Pharmacy

    1019 Hongqiao Lu, Changning

    Pharmacy listed by the consulate, on the Hongqiao side.

    Source

  • Pharmacie Huashi

    Pharmacy

    168 Lujiazui West Road, Pudong

    Pharmacy listed by the consulate, on the Pudong side.

    Source

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Vaccines: differences from France

In China, foreign children staying more than six months follow the Chinese vaccination schedule. The good news: it largely overlaps with the French one, with a few additions.

Good to know

  • Children under 6 living in China for more than six months follow the same schedule as Chinese children: have their vaccinations registered by bringing the vaccination booklet and passport to a hospital or clinic. Source
  • The BCG is compulsory in China for children who settle there: if it was not done in France, it is given at a designated hospital in your district. Source
  • Compulsory vaccines, required for kindergarten and school, are free; optional vaccines are paid for, as are registration fees at international clinics or VIP services. Source
  • Before leaving, bring the whole family up to date with the French schedule (DTP, whooping cough, measles) and ask your doctor about vaccines advised for the stay: hepatitis A, typhoid, Japanese encephalitis, rabies for young children. Source
  • An electronic vaccination certificate can be obtained online for vaccines given in Shanghai. Source

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These landmarks do not replace the advice of a health professional. In an emergency, call the local emergency number shown above.

A place has closed, something has changed? Tell us: the mums of Shanghai will thank you.

Sources for this page

The public pages these landmarks come from. The official website always prevails.

  1. 1 Consulat général de France à Shanghai, liste indicative des professionnels de santé (décembre 2025)
  2. 2 Ambassade de France en Chine, traducteurs, avocats et professionnels de santé
  3. 3 France Diplomatie, Chine : santé
  4. 4 International Services Shanghai, soins pédiatriques
  5. 5 International Services Shanghai, urgences médicales
  6. 6 International Services Shanghai, vaccination des enfants
  7. 7 Consulat de France, déclaration de naissance

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Verified addresses, official sources, school-year dates: we write when the Shanghai guide changes, never more than once a week.

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