Shanghai First People's Hospital - International Medical Center

The International Medical Care Center (IMCC) of Shanghai First People's Hospital, formerly known as the historic 'Friendship Ward' established in 1956 for visiting foreign delegations and embassy personnel, is one of the earliest officially designated international medical service units in Shanghai and has evolved over six decades into Shanghai's most comprehensive round-the-clock public international care platform. Uniquely among public hospitals in the city, IMCC is the only one offering true 24-hour international medical services at both outpatient and inpatient levels across both of the hospital's north and south campuses, covering acute general medicine, emergency trauma, ophthalmology, urology, oncology, cardiovascular medicine, and endocrinology. In addition to clinical care, the center provides international teleconsultation links with overseas hospitals for complex second opinions, medical tourism reception and concierge coordination with Shanghai's international travel services, large-scale event medical support for consulates and Fortune 500 companies, and dedicated health coordinators providing full accompaniment services from registration through consultations, examinations, procedures, and billing for every visit. The center has 88 beds across VIP wards and executive suites at both north and south campuses, supports direct billing for Aetna, Cigna, MSH, Allianz, and Bupa, and offers English and Japanese language services around the clock including weekends and public holidays for expat families and travelers in Shanghai. On-site diagnostic services include MRI Scan, CT Scan, Echocardiogram, 24h Holter Monitor, and other advanced diagnostic studies, all scheduled with priority pathways for international patients to minimize total visit time. The department also provides 24-hour emergency services for international patients with acute conditions, with dedicated pathways in place to reduce wait times for urgent evaluation and care. multilingual staff fluent in English and Japanese are available on-site, complemented by dedicated international patient coordinators who manage the entire patient journey from arrival through discharge and professional medical translation support as needed. Direct billing is accepted for all major international insurers including Aetna, Cigna, MSH, Allianz, and Bupa, with on-site insurance coordinators handling pre-authorization, guarantee-of-payment letters, and detailed claim documentation. Appointments can be arranged via Phone / WeChat / Online, with bilingual coordinators confirming exact arrival instructions in advance.