I believe it varies from country to country, depending on where the individual is from.

people from some countries are not required to complete a medical exam to submit to the Chinese embassy as part of the application - i didn't have to.

I only had to do the FULL medical on arrival as part of the application for the RP.

I suggest you say what country the applicant is from so posters from that country can advise you.

Why are you so insistent on just having the MINIMUM.. I am not sure about Z visa but I know about S visa that if you get the FULL medical BEFORE coming to China and bring all the reports with you, you can get the medical certificate in China without having to repeat any of the test and without paying for the test fees in China.

When it's so easy to just contact the Chinese embassy or consulates in either China or the UK, I can't understand why would you ask in a forum such as this and get a bunch of conflicting and (likely) erroneous information. The minimum requirements for a medical exam are whatever the embassy tells you are the minimum requirements when you actually call them and find out.

I got my Z in Pakistan last year. I went through a medical check up for my own satisfaction which was not acceptable in China later. Applying for a Z I just completed a health check form available on Chinese embassy's site and signed it from a government hospital. I attached that with the visa application and received my Z. Upon my arrival I was asked for a medical check after which I was given the FEC. The medical check here was a chest X-ray, blood pressure ... Don't exactly remember whether there was anything else or not?

I'm from the U.K. When i applied for Z visa,no medical asked for,just had the medical  in China.

I'm from The Netherlands. When  applied for my Z-visa in Bangkok the Chinese consulate didn't ask for a physical examination record for foreigners. The form is available at he Chinese consulate's website. I did the health check in Bangkok ( Bangkok Christian Hospital) . Upon my arrival I was asked for the results of the medical check an I got my FEC very easily.

I had the FULL Chinese medical in China before going back to the UK to get my Z visa in 2012 (I was here on a business visa at the time). I took it with me when I applied for the visa, tried to give it to them & they laughed, asking why I had brought it! I only needed it back in China for the rest of the process. 

It's my understanding that the overseas medical isn't required at the visa application stage. BUT!....some provinces require a medical to be able to issue an invite letter and work permit in order to apply for the Z visa.

I had to get a medical done in the UK to get the visa application paperwork and then have the medical that counts when I got to China to convert the Z visa to an RP.

I took this form to my GP.

http://www.china-embassy.org/eng/ywzn/lsyw/vpna/rap/W0201108072016753717...

Got them to fill in what they could..

BP, Heartrate, Height etc.

Wrote = OK in other areas.

With all the tests (HIV) , Xray. = wrote none found. (to be checked in China)

Pretty sure, I didn't have HIV / TB etc.

Then got the Doctor to stamp across the photo and stamp the signature.

Stamps are very important in China, if it aint got a stamp...its not worth the paper its written on.

Passed the medical in China ok...BP a little high, but no problems.

Its a bit of a joke really, if you come from a 1st world country, you aren't likely to infect the "clean, hygienic and healthy" Chinese population.....so its just a bit of a money spinner really.