“Need a CT scan? Here in China, you can almost always walk in and get it the exact same day.”
Healthcare in China vs. Ireland
Welcome back to ‘Five Reasons Why I Love Living in China’—a video series where I look at the realities of daily life here, compared to life back home in Ireland.
Let’s get into reason number three: Healthcare and Infrastructure.
While China has granted me a higher quality of life and the opportunity to serve, contribute, and grow, I have been suffering from what I call acclimatization issues. These could be due to a combination of environmental changes, genetics, and other unknown factors. Fortunately, I am incredibly lucky to have access to the highest quality of medical services here.
I once had some bloating, so I walked into a local public hospital in the beautiful town of Changtu, Liaoning Province. Incredibly, all in a single day, I consulted a doctor, had a CT scan, and got my results back showing a buildup of gas. They advised me to get a colonoscopy, and I had the procedure done within just a week. Thanks to the anesthetic, I felt absolutely no discomfort—and ironically, the surgeon later joked that he had never seen a cleaner colon!
As I mentioned earlier, I am not simply going to point the finger at Ireland’s hospital system. To give credit where it’s due, I would have died if it weren’t for the support and expertise of the great doctors who treated my severe asthma as a kid—I remember the nebulizer very well! Irish doctors have also helped save my mother’s life on at least two occasions: once during COVID, and again after a recent fall.
However, patients on public hospital waiting lists in Ireland often have to wait weeks or even months to receive basic treatments like a scan, or for urgent diagnostic procedures such as endoscopies, colonoscopies, and bronchoscopies. Even then, patients can expect to wait weeks just for the results. Some of the root causes for these issues include under-capacity, chronic staffing shortages, and systemic inefficiencies.
On top of that, as of March 2026, the construction completion date of the new National Children’s Hospital is 40 months behind schedule.
I am no medical expert, but I can say with confidence that a hospital would never take so long to build in China. In fact, China is known for its advanced construction capabilities. For example, in Changsha in 2021, a 10-story apartment building was erected in just 28 hours using advanced modular fabrication techniques and on-site assembly, with the help of three cranes and a large team of workers.
The building utilized stainless steel B-Core slabs as structural elements, which the company claims are 10 times lighter and 100 times stronger than conventional alternatives. They are also supposedly resistant to mega-earthquakes and typhoons.
China has the potential to help solve the housing crises occurring in many countries worldwide, particularly through its advanced construction techniques, supply chain efficiencies, and cost competitiveness. However, governments need to stop merely paying lip service to cooperation while secretly erecting protectionist barriers behind closed doors and pushing false narratives to mask their own systemic failures just to save political face.
Make sure to stick around for Part 4 of the series, where we talk about something we all care about: the cost of living.
Disclaimer: This video and article is based on my personal experiences and opinions. It is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical advice.
Some Video Footage Courtesy of CCTV+
Additional stock footage provided by Google
If you’d like to visit the Middle Kingdom, explore our Top 30 China Experiences.
