CPAP in China

[britinguangzhou]

I underwent a sleep test in the UK about 6 months ago and have finally got the results that I have obstructive sleep apnea (mild to moderate), they're recommending a 3 month CPAP trial.
However, in the time it's taken to get my results we have moved to China and they can't help me until I return to the UK (potentially a year before I'm back in the current climate).
It seems like Resmed and Phillips devices are hard to come by or very expensive here in China
Does anyone have experience with Chinese CPAP devices or know a clinic in Guangzhou they can recommend?

[rick blaine]

Hi britinguanzhou,

You can get whoever did the sleep study in the UK to write you a 'scrip' (prescription) and buy direct from ResMed UK in Abingdon or Philips Respironics UK in Chichester, and have the machine sent to you. You would need to find out what the import tariffs and procedures are – and even if you are allowed to import.

Or you could contact the US-based SecondwindCPAP company. They have experience of selling to people in countries all over the world, and providing the necessary paper-work.

And as a help to getting info about local laws, procedures, etc, I'm sure you know about the British Council. There is an office of same in the People's Republic. I'm sure you know that, but I mention it anyway.

[chunkyfrog]

I think he means the British consul, in the British consulate.
The ambassador and his staff can help skip over local roadblocks for you.
That is part of their job.

[rick blaine]

No, I mean the British Council,

and the British Council in China

as here:

https://www.britishcouncil.cn/en

Altho it is an agency set up to promote mutual cultural understanding, the Council is also a good and informal source of help to British citizens in many countries around the world.

The British Consulate is a service provided (usually) at the British Embassy, and deals with passports, some legal matters, such as a British citizen being the victim of a criminal attack or of terrorism, and (in qualifying cases) getting British citizens in difficulties back to the UK.

[chunkyfrog]

If it were me, I would try both . . .

[britinguangzhou]

Hi britinguanzhou,

You can get whoever did the sleep study in the UK to write you a 'scrip' (prescription) and buy direct from ResMed UK in Abingdon or Philips Respironics UK in Chichester, and have the machine sent to you. You would need to find out what the import tariffs and procedures are – and even if you are allowed to import.

Or you could contact the US-based SecondwindCPAP company. They have experience of selling to people in countries all over the world, and providing the necessary paper-work.

And as a help to getting info about local laws, procedures, etc, I'm sure you know about the British Council. There is an office of same in the People's Republic. I'm sure you know that, but I mention it anyway.

My understanding of import duties into Guangzhou is that there is a 35% import levy on imports, thus my original question on Chinese brands... Any worth considering?

[rick blaine]

Hello again, britinguanzhou,

The internet available to me here in the UK says that these three Chinese companies offer locally-made CPAP machines:

– Changsha Dinyi Medical Technology Co, Ltd, in Changsha, Hunan Province.

– Hunan Ventmed Medical Technologygy Co, Ltd, in Shaoyang, Hunan Province.

– Nanjing Superstar Medical Equipment Co, Ltd, in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province.

I don't have any direct experience of any of them – which is what I think you are asking for.

You might try asking at the two or three large hospitals nearest to you if they have a sleep-medicine department, and if they have, which locally-made machine they have standardised on, and why.

If there's any places in Guanzhou where ex-pats hang out, you might ask as many people as you can there. Likewise, you might send an e-mail to as many ex-pats as you can find a url for to ask if any of them have sleep apnea, and bought local – or if they know someone who has sleep apnea, and bought local.

You might also 'phone round all the international carriers, starting with British Airways, to ask if they have bought locally-made machines for use in supporting their staff, given that flight crew have to declare themselves.