Photo Essay: ‘Patient Companions’ Fill Void in China’s Medical Industry

Patient companion, Chen Ting (right), operates a self-service machine in Peking Union Medical College Hospital on March 9, assisting her client from North China’s Inner Mongolia autonomous region in seeking medical treatment. Photo: Ding Ke (intern)/Caixin

Li Lu handles a multitude of tasks for her elderly client at the Peking University Third Hospital on the morning of Jan. 13 — from lining up at the payment counter and making appointments to gathering test results and medication from various departments.

The 47-year-old Li is one of the growing number of “patient companions” in China who offer paid companionship to hospital-goers, particularly for the elderly or those seeking medical care outside their hometown. According to data from the enterprise registration platform Qichacha, as of March 27, China had over 860 enterprises related to patient companions, with over 25% established last year.