First and foremost, you really don't want to get sick while in China - of course you really don't want to get sick anywhere for that matter. Particularly if you’re on a short visit. It's not that this is a backward country, although it certainly can be in certain areas. Shanghai, Beijing, QuangZhou, and most of the other large cities are certainly as modern as New York, Los Angeles, or Chicago (and in fact more modern in many aspects). It's just that nothing is very clean here, and passing germs from person to person is easy. Also, because of the dense population germs are distributed quickly.

I had my gall bladder removed in Nanchang, Jiangxi Province. When I checked into the hospital, I was a little shocked at the hospital room. I'm fairly sure the bed sheets had been washed and were clean, but one could definitely tell that they were well used….however, the floors and walls were pretty appalling. BTW - expect a roommate or two or . . .
The doctors were very professional (also true for most dentists), and in fact trained in the most modern techniques. An interview with him prior to the operation revealed that he understood English very well, but was really afraid to speak because he didn't want to make a mistake. But he acknowledged and calmed all the concerns I had.

The operating room looked very modern, although a little austere. It just so happens that the laser procedure for removing gall bladders is as common in China as it is in the USA. The only major difference was the price tag - only about $700 (5000 rmb) here in China. Hooray for socialized medicine.

There have been horror stories about watered down medicine being sold to people, but a thorough investigation has revealed that these people bought their medicines from a “street vendor” and not in a pharmacy or drug store. What sane person would do that?

The getting well part is really easy if you have a place to rest, and have someone to help take care of you - which I do on both counts - I went home one day after my operation and convalesced in my own home. Also, if you have certain fairly common ailments, relief is as close as the nearest drug store - and there is one on almost every block. A major plus is you don't need a prescription, or the doctors permission to buy many of the drugs you need. Purchasing one of the penicillin derivatives (amoxicillin, norfloxacin, etc.) or many of the really fabulous western drugs is easy and very inexpensive - and it comes in the same box Pfizer (or Glaxo-Smith-Klein, whomever) placed it in at the Shanghai factory. Chinese instructions are on one side of the box, and many times English is on the other side…. It’s best if you know the medical name - not the brand name - for the drug in question. Tylenol is Tylenol, no matter where you buy it.

Also, in case of flu and other viruses, the Chinese learned their lesson from the SARS episode, and now go into high-gear when a case of any flu is discovered. Even if you self-treat, it's fairly easy to pop into a hospital and get a intravenous antibiotic treatment for any bacterial infection.

So as I started this article, you don't really want to get sick, but if you know what ails you, and/or know what you need to cure you, then you can buy that cure very cheaply. Wash often, especially your hands and face. Drink only bottled water (it's only 1 Yuan - 14 cents - in most areas). Try to keep your hands off of walls, and any buttons that millions before you have, don't touch your face after shaking hands with people, don't use someone else's cell phone. And of course, ALWAYS wash after using the restroom…..Just like mom told you. . .


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