The healthcare guide for English-speaking expatriates, published by the Shenzhen Daily on Tuesday, has been highly acclaimed by foreigners living in the city, with some saying they will keep it as a handbook.

Many expat patients visiting the priority clinical center at Beijing University Shenzhen Hospital over the past two days filled in the time in waiting rooms by reading the medical supplement, according to nurses at the center.

David Arthor, an English teacher with SCIE International School who was having a medical examination at the clinical center yesterday, said he had started reading the medical guide at home Tuesday. Many expat teachers at his school had gone to buy the newspaper Tuesday morning after they read a notice in the previous day's Shenzhen Daily about the medical supplement. He said many thought the medical guide was worth keeping for reference.

"This is a very important topic. It's what we care about and need to know and it was interesting to read," Arthor said. "The reports were well-rounded. There are both government policies and interesting medical experiences of expats, and I especially like the road map. It's great!”

"It was also very helpful to list the hospitals and clinics below the map, with their phone numbers," said Adele, Arthor's wife. "It was very considerate of you to make clear whether they (the hospitals) have English speakers. You know, it's necessary for us to know if there would be an English speaker on the other end to answer the phone. Also, I suggest setting up an English emergency hotline, as mentioned by your interviewees in the reports. To sum up, you did a good job."

The Arthors asked how to apply for the comprehensive medical insurance offered by the city government and said they would be interested in knowing more about the types of medical insurance offered by domestic and overseas insurance companies.

Jim Harpell, a teacher with International School of Sino-Canada, thought Tuesday's supplement was an example of thorough and detailed reportings. "It was done from different perspectives and there are opinions from people of different age groups and different walks of life," Harpell said. "It was very interesting to read."

After it was published, the Shenzhen Daily received several phone calls from expats who either expressed their appreciation for the medical supplement or asked for more information. Some asked the newspaper staff to recommend a hospital that would be best in treating a particular illness.

The Shenzhen branch of AIG General China Ltd. also called the newspaper after reading the supplement to say the company had medical insurance policies specially designed for expats.

The company said AIG GlobalHealth Expatriate Medical Insurance, newly launched by the company in cooperation with GlobalHealth, a leading medical insurance provider, is well-received in other major Chinese cities.

Expats who have lived in China for less than five years are eligible to buy policies which start at around US$1,000 per year and with all-inclusive benefits limited to US$2,000,000.

(Shenzhen Daily November 1, 2007)