September 04, 2006

The Medical...
I was driven into Shijiazhuang (capital of Hebei province) yesterday to get a medical exam done before I can get my residence permit and foreign expert card. I wasn't allowed to eat anything in the morning, which wasn't a problem because it probably wouldn't have stayed in very well anyway.
For a mere 280 Yuan (about $45.00 Canadian), I got a full medical exam. Although it was fast, it was the most thorough medical exam I can remember. It started in a room with two people behind Plexiglas taking blood samples. You stick your arm through and they take a vial of blood to test blood type, HIV, blood sugar, etc. Next was an X-ray of my lungs, followed by an electronic measurement of my height and weight. What's weird is that there are a bunch of rooms, and you scurry from one room to the other, waiting by the open door for the person ahead of you to finish and not letting anyone behind you cut in front. No privacy. Next I went into a room called "Internal Surgery", which worried me a bit, but they just took my blood pressure, listened to my lungs, did an ultrasound of my kidneys, liver, stomach, and intestines (all good). That was followed by an EKG (random electrodes attached to my body), and a final room called "Facial Features" where they checked my vision (the lady gave me a strange look when it came to my left eye), tonsils, and ears for earwax.
The whole thing, from paperwork, to paying, to all the tests, only took one hour! I can't imagine how long it would take in Canada to get all those tests done.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

WOW, do you get the results on the spot? I think we could learn a lesson or two about being so efficient and cost effective.

Anonymous said...

Did you have to run around in one of those hospital gowns with the trap door flapping in the breeze? What were your results? Any evidence of eating too much cheese? (maybe that's why mice prefer you...)

Stephen said...

It's really incredible. They gave me the results of everything on the spot, except the X-ray and blood work which are next day.
No hospital gowns required, just a few elbows to make sure no one cuts in front.

Stephen said...

I just got a call that I passed the medical exam, and that I've got my foreign expert card. Tomorrow I should get my temporary residence card from the PSB (Public Security Bureau). I haven't even been here for 2 weeks, and the paperwork is almost done! Talk about Chinese efficiency.