At a glance

There's cost and service differences between public and private hospitals.

Maternity

Cost of natural birth: 3,000 ($470) to 6,000 yuan in public hospitals; up to 65,000 yuan in some private hospitals.

Cost of cesarean section: 5,000 to 8,000 yuan in public hospitals; up to 100,000 yuan in private hospitals.

Ward conditions: In most public hospitals, three to six people share one room and the restroom. In private hospitals, each ward is designed for one person, usually with restroom attached.

Laser eye surgery

The cost ranges from 4,000 to 15,000 yuan in public hospitals because of the different types of surgeries, and they depend on the patient's condition. The cost will be at least 20 percent higher in high-end private hospitals.

Making appointment for surgery

At a public hospital, a patient has to go to the hospital to register, see a doctor, and then decide the date of surgery. The waiting time may be as short as a few days or as long as a few weeks or months.

At a private hospital, a patient can decide when to see the doctor and undergo surgery, as long as the patient calls to make an appointment.

China Daily