China's medical tourism system has gradually developed from the early “piecemeal exploration” to a systematic structure of policy guidance, multi-body synergy, and full industry chain coverage, forming a four-dimensional support system of “policy support + medical services + tourism resources + international docking”. It has formed a four-dimensional support system of “policy support + medical services + tourism resources + international docking”. The following is an analysis of the policy framework, core elements, service system, international competitiveness and other dimensions:
The rapid development of China's medical tourism cannot be separated from the top-level design of national and local policies, and the core policies include:
. The Outline of the “Healthy China 2030” Plan (2016) explicitly proposes to “develop new business forms of health services”, and lists medical tourism as one of the most important business forms in China. . The Outline of the “Healthy China 2030” Plan (2016) explicitly proposes to “develop new forms of health services”, lists medical tourism as an important part of the “health industry”, and encourages the integrated development of “healthcare+tourism”.
. The 14th Five-Year Plan for Tourism Development (2021) proposes to “cultivate new business forms such as health tourism” and support Hainan, Changsha, and other cities in the Yangtze River Delta to develop new business forms. "It supports the construction of international medical tourism destinations in Hainan, the Yangtze River Delta, the Pearl River Delta and other regions.
. Boao Lecheng International Medical Tourism Pilot Zone in Hainan (approved in 2013): four major policies of “licensed medical treatment, licensed research, licensed operation and licensed international medical exchanges” are granted, allowing the use of medicines and medical devices that have been marketed overseas but not domestically (e.g. drugs and medical devices for treating liver cancer). (e.g. yttrium-90 microspheres for liver cancer, sodium nociceptin, a drug for spinal muscular atrophy), it is currently China's most central testing ground for medical tourism policies.
. Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Medical Cooperation (2020): Promote the interoperability of medical resources among Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao, allow Hong Kong and Macao physicians to practice in Guangdong on a short-term basis, and pilot the “Hong Kong-Macao Pharmaceutical and Device Pass” (allowing the use of medicines and devices from Hong Kong and Macao). "(allowing the use of medicines and medical devices listed in Hong Kong and Macao), and attracting international tourists.
. Other regional policies: For example, Yunnan (relying on the “Hometown of Longevity” Bama to develop recreational tourism), Guangxi (cross-border medical tourism in border areas), etc., combining local characteristics to formulate differentiated policies. Developing differentiated policies.
China's medical tourism system has formed a whole industry chain of “medical services + tourism services + supporting services”, and the core participants include:
. Public tertiary hospitals: represented by Peking Union Medical College (PUMC) Hospital, Shanghai Ruijin Hospital, West China Hospital, etc. Relying on top technologies and international certifications (e.g., JCI), the hospitals attract patients with serious/difficult diseases (e.g., cancer, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases).
. High-end private hospitals, such as Beijing United Family, Shanghai Meizhong Yiho, and Shenzhen Huaxia Ophthalmology, are JCI-accredited, focusing on health management (medical checkups, early screenings), aesthetics and orthopedics, and rehabilitation and wellness, and serving the high-net-worth population.
. Specialty hospitals: such as Boao Super Hospital in Hainan (focusing on the introduction of international new drugs/devices), Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (Traditional Chinese Medicine Physiotherapy), and Bama Longevity Research Institute in Guangxi (natural healing), etc., which form differentiated competitiveness relying on the advantages of technology or resources. Differentiated competitiveness.
Tourism service organizations . Professional medical tourism travel agency: provide “medical + tourism” packaged products (e.g. “Sanya 5-day medical + vacation”, “Japanese tourists Shanghai medical checkup + Disney&rdquo
. Medical checkup + Disney for Japanese tourists").
. Hotels and resorts: High-end hotels cooperate with medical institutions to launch “ward + room” linked services (e.g., post-operative patients recovering in the hotel), and provide hot springs, SPA and other recreational facilities.
. Transportation and logistics: international airline encryption (e.g., Hainan opened to Southeast Asia, Japan and South Korea medical tourism line), cross-border medical charter services (for seriously ill patients); cross-border drug / device logistics (LeCheng pilot zone through the “bonded warehouse” cross-border medicine / device logistics (LeCheng pilot zone through the “bonded warehouse&rdquo. “Bonded Warehouse” for fast customs clearance).
. Insurance and Payment: International insurance companies (e.g. MSH, BUPA) have launched “medical tourism insurance” to cover the cost of medical treatment abroad; some private hospitals have cooperated with international insurance organizations for direct payment (e.g. MSH, BUPA); some private hospitals have cooperated with international insurance organizations for direct payment (e.g. BUPA). Some private hospitals have partnered with international insurance organizations (e.g., United Family and BUPA).
Interpretation and Orientation: Professional medical interpreters and guides are available. Interpretation and medical guidance: Professional medical interpreters (e.g., MedLink Interpreters) and multi-language guidance services (covering English, Russian, Arabic, etc.) are available to address the language barriers faced by international patients. Language barriers for international patients.
China's medical tourism service system has expanded from a single “disease treatment” to a full cycle of prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, and health care, specifically:
Disease treatment: “China's solution” for serious and difficult diseases. Core technologies: Internationally advanced technologies in the fields of cancer (proton heavy ion radiotherapy, CAR-T cell therapy), cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases (interventional surgery), and rare diseases (gene therapy).
Typical Cases Typical cases: Hainan LeCheng Advanced Zone provides Southeast Asian patients with “unlisted new drugs + rehabilitation and convalescence” services (e.g., the use of FDA-approved anticancer drugs); Shanghai Ruijin Hospital provides “diagnosis and treatment + follow-up” services for international patients with hematologic diseases; Shanghai Ruijin Hospital provides “diagnosis and treatment + follow-up” services for international patients with hematologic diseases. Shanghai Ruijin Hospital provides international hematology patients with “diagnosis and treatment + follow-up” full-process management. 2. health management: high-end medical checkups and follow-up services.
Health Management: High-end Physical Examination and Early Screening Services: PET-CT whole body screening, early cancer screening (e.g., liquid biopsy), genetic testing (e.g., BRCA1/2 mutation testing), chronic disease risk assessment (e.g., diabetes, hypertension).
. Featured organizations: Meinian Dahua Health (high-end medical checkups), Aikang Guobin (customized screening), United Family (international standard medical checkup process), and some organizations cooperate with insurance companies to offer “medical checkup + insurance” packages (e.g., BRCA1/2 biopsy). Some organizations cooperate with insurance companies to offer “physical examination + insurance” packages (if the physical examination is abnormal, claims can be made).
. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) physiotherapy: acupuncture, tuina, moxibustion and other traditional therapies (e.g., the “Chinese Medicine for Pre-existing Diseases” center at Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital) for people with arthritis, cervical spondylosis, and sub-healthy people.
. Natural healing: Bama, Guangxi (negative oxygen ions, alkaline water), Dali, Yunnan (climatic healing), Weihai, Shandong (seaside rehabilitation), combined with medicinal baths, Tai Chi and other courses.
. Hot spring rehabilitation: Nanjing Tangshan Hot Spring (sulfur-containing springs, for skin diseases), Fujian Guian Hot Spring (fluorine-containing springs, for arthralgia), some hot spring hotels and hospitals cooperate to provide "hot spring + physiotherapy Some hot spring hotels cooperate with hospitals to provide “hot spring + physiotherapy” packages.
. Scope of services : Surgery (double eyelids, nose job, liposuction), non-surgical (Thermage, ultrasonic scalpel, hyaluronic acid filler), skin management (laser spot removal, hydrafacial injection).
. Popular destinations : Shanghai (Jiuyuan Plastic Surgery), Beijing (Badaqi Plastic Surgery), Chengdu (Huahan Plastic Surgery), Sanya, Hainan (a number of private medical and aesthetic institutions), combined with duty-free shopping (e.g., Sanya International Duty Free City) to enhance the stickiness of tourists.
. Technology and cost-effective: China's medical technology (such as cancer treatment, Chinese medicine physiotherapy) up to the international level, but the cost is only Europe and the United States 1/2-1/3 (such as the U.S. PET-CT of about 10,000 U.S. dollars, China's private hospitals about 3,000-5,000 yuan); Chinese medicine physiotherapy (acupuncture, tuina) costs only South Korea, Thailand, 1/2 -2/3.
. Policy dividends: “License policy” in areas such as Lecheng, Hainan, to attract global patients (e.g., use of unlisted new drugs), Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao Bay Area Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area: “Hong Kong-Macao Pharmaceutical Access” lowers the threshold for international patients to use medicines.
. Cultural and tourism resources: China's rich natural landscapes (Sanya beaches, Yunnan landscapes), history and culture (Xi'an monuments, Tibet Tibetan culture) are combined with medical services to form a “medical + cultural” complex experience.How Can China's Assisted Reproductive Institutions Earn Global Trust? How Does China's Assisted Reproductive Technology Meet Diverse Fertility Needs? Why Has China's Assisted Reproductive Technology Become the Top Choice for International Patients? Five Core Advantages of China's Assisted Reproductive Technology: A Comprehensive Analysis of Technology, Policy, and Services China's Assisted Reproductive Technology Leads Globally: Why Does Its Success Rate Remain Among the Highest? The Rise of Medical Tourism in China: Why Are Overseas Cancer Patients Choosing Treatment Abroad? China's Cancer Treatment Costs in Global Ranking: Is the Value for Money Truly Higher? China vs. the United States: How Wide Is the Gap in Cancer Treatment Technology? 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China's medical tourism system has formed a pattern of “policy-driven, multi-principal synergy, and full industry chain coverage”, and possesses significant advantages in the fields of disease treatment, health management, and rehabilitation, becoming an “emerging force” in the global medical tourism market. In the future, through policy innovation, service standardization and international layout, China is expected to rank among the first echelon of global medical tourism, and become a landmark business card of “Healthy China” and “Culture and Tourism Integration”.
