It was supposed to be just another evening at the gym.

As part of my routine during the China International Press Communication Centre (CIPCC) programme in Beijing, I was doing my usual cardio exercises – working up a good sweat and feeling strong.

But then, everything changed in an instant.

The floor was slippery, and the jumping box I was using suddenly shifted. I lost my balance and landed hard. A sharp pain surged through my right arm. I knew something was terribly wrong – I couldn’t even see my elbow. It had dislocated.

In a foreign country, injured and struggling to communicate in the local language, it would have been easy to feel overwhelmed and helpless.

But what unfolded next was more than just a medical emergency. It became a defining moment – one that reshaped my understanding of healthcare delivery, efficiency, and what it truly means for a system to serve its people.

That night, I wasn’t alone. Two fellow journalists from the CIPCC programme – one from Iran and the other from Jamaica – became my guardian angels. Without hesitation, they rushed me to Chaoyang Hospital, one of Beijing’s main public hospitals.

It was around 9:30 PM.

What surprised me most was what happened next – despite the excruciating pain…

Smooth hospital system

Even with the language barrier, the hospital system worked like clockwork. I was registered almost immediately – no chaos, long queues, no waiting for hours just to see someone.

I was directed straight to the emergency department. A doctor saw me right away and sent me for a CT scan.

Within minutes, the results came back. It was not just a dislocated elbow, I had three fractures as well.

Then came Dr Diao Shuo, the orthopaedic doctor. Calm, focused and gentle, he assessed the injury, realigned the dislocated joint on the spot and put my arm in a cast.

I was then sent for an X-ray to ensure everything was properly in place. Again, the X-ray results came back almost immediately.

What truly astonished me was the speed and efficiency of it all. From the moment I entered the hospital to the moment my arm was treated and casted – it took less than two hours.

And it was not a private hospital. This was a public hospital in the heart of Beijing.

Back home, I would have easily spent three hours just waiting for a scan. But here I was, in a foreign city, in unfamiliar surroundings, receiving timely, effective care that rivalled anything I’d experienced before.

I was genuinely amazed.

Now let’s talk about the cost ...

Affordable cost

I was expecting a big bill. After all, I’m a foreigner here but the total cost for the whole emergency treatment from consultation, CT scan, X-ray, relocation and cast was only 450 yuan. That was about RM295.

Honestly, for a foreigner, that’s really affordable. And, it didn’t stop there.

Every two weeks, I had to go for follow-up checkups and X-rays. The system was just efficient. You register (costs 50 yuan), scan your QR code, get your queue number and wait.

Usually, I’ll be in and out of the hospital in almost no time. The X-ray costs another 70 yuan, so the total cost during each visit was just 120 yuan. Still very reasonable.

Everything is digital. You don’t have to run around with paper slips or guess which counter to go to. The moment you register, the system updates automatically. Your number appears on the screen, the orthopaedic department already has your file, and you’re good to go.

I know how frustrating it can be sometimes due to the long waits, slow process and high costs.

So, to see this kind of fast, tech-driven and affordable care in a public hospital really opened my eyes.

People and technology

It made me realise how much technology helps. From QR code registration to electronic queue, everything is integrated.

The system cuts down time, removes unnecessary steps and just makes things smoother, not just for locals but for foreigners too.

But more than the system, it’s the people I won’t forget. My two friends who were there every step of the way and also the CIPCC assistants who accompanied me for follow ups.

And of course, Dr Diao, the man who literally put my elbow back in place.

What started as a painful accident ended up teaching me so much about China, about kindness and public healthcare that actually works.

Till next time, China.

-- BERNAMA

Kisho Kumari Sucedaram is a journalist with BERNAMA.