China Pharmacies & Medicine 2026: OTC, Prescriptions, Antibiotics

Where do I buy medicine as a foreign visitor in China?

What can I buy over the counter without a prescription?

You can buy most cold, flu, and stomach remedies without a prescription, including ibuprofen (布洛芬, builuofen), acetaminophen (对乙酰氨基酚), cetirizine, loratadine, loperamide, omeprazole, and most traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) decoctions and pills. Vitamins, medicated plasters, bandages, and contact lens solution are also unrestricted. Pharmacists often ask what symptoms you have (in Chinese) and may recommend a Chinese equivalent even after you name a Western drug, so a translation app is genuinely useful at the counter.

Sources: National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) - Drug Regulation Notices, World Health Organization - China Pharmaceutical Profile

Why can't I just buy antibiotics at the counter anymore?

Since the NMPA's 2020 enforcement push, antibiotics including amoxicillin, azithromycin, cephalosporins, and fluoroquinolones are strictly prescription-only, and pharmacies that sell them without one face fines up to 1,000,000 RMB and license revocation (as of 2026). The rule targets antimicrobial resistance, which was a serious public health issue when antibiotics were sold like candy in the 2000s. If you have a urinary tract infection, strep throat, sinus infection, or traveler's diarrhea that has gone bacterial, expect a clinic visit, not a pharmacy purchase.

Sources: National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) - Drug Regulation Notices, China Daily - Antibiotic Prescription Rules 2020 Update

How do I get a prescription if I need one?

Walk into the outpatient department (门诊, menzhen) of any public hospital or a foreign-friendly clinic such as Parkway Health, United Family, or Oasis. Bring your passport, describe your symptoms, and most clinics can issue a same-day prescription for 100 to 500 RMB depending on the city and hospital tier. The pharmacy inside the hospital (or any external pharmacy) will then dispense the drug, and you'll pay separately (as of 2026). Antibiotic courses are usually 3 to 7 days and cost between 30 and 200 RMB at hospital pharmacies.

Sources: China Daily - Antibiotic Prescription Rules 2020 Update, Expatica - Healthcare in China Guide

Will my foreign prescription from home work in China?

In practice, no. Chinese pharmacies do not accept foreign prescriptions because the prescribing doctor is not licensed by the NMPA, the drug name on the script is often a brand name not sold locally, and the dosage may not match Chinese clinical guidelines. You can show a foreign prescription to a Chinese doctor as reference, but they will rewrite it. For chronic conditions like high blood pressure or thyroid issues, bring enough medicine for the whole trip plus a copy of your prescription in case customs asks.

Sources: National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) - Drug Regulation Notices

Do I need to bring medicine from home or can I find it in China?

For routine stuff, skip the suitcase. Common Western generics are manufactured in China at huge scale and are cheap: a box of metformin, sertraline, or atorvastatin costs a fraction of US prices. But for niche drugs (certain ADHD meds, biologics, name-brand EpiPens, specific antidepressants), do bring your own supply, since Chinese pharmacies often don't stock them. Keep medicines in original labeled containers, and bring a copy of the prescription in case customs asks at the border.

Sources: World Health Organization - China Pharmaceutical Profile, Expatica - Healthcare in China Guide

How do I handle language barriers at the pharmacy?

Most chain pharmacies in tourist-heavy districts (Beijing Wangfujing, Shanghai Nanjing Road, Chengdu Chunxi Road) have at least one English-speaking staff member, but rural and smaller-city pharmacies often do not. Use a translation app with photo mode to translate your medicine box, and learn the Chinese characters for common drug classes: 感冒 (cold), 退烧 (fever reducer), 止痛 (pain relief), 止泻 (anti-diarrheal), 抗过敏 (anti-allergy). The pharmacist's recommendation is often a generic equivalent that works fine, but if you want a specific brand, write the generic name down before you go.

Sources: China Daily - Antibiotic Prescription Rules 2020 Update, World Health Organization - China Pharmaceutical Profile

What should I do if I have a medical emergency?

Dial 120 for an ambulance (yes, the number is 120, not 911) or 110 for police to redirect to medical services. In major cities, ambulance response averages 12 to 20 minutes, and the public hospital ER will treat you regardless of insurance status, though you pay upfront. Foreign-friendly private hospitals (United Family, Parkway, Jiahui) are quicker and have English-speaking staff, but ER visits typically run 2,000 to 8,000 RMB. Save your embassy's medical assistance number and your travel insurance hotline before you fly.

Sources: Expatica - Healthcare in China Guide