China medical tourism packages are an emerging industry that has developed rapidly in recent years, combining medical services, health management, rehabilitation and tourism experiences, aiming to provide tourists with a one-stop solution of “treatment + tourism + health maintenance”. The aim is to provide tourists with a one-stop solution of “treatment + tourism + health”. These packages rely on China's rich medical resources, specialty therapies (such as traditional Chinese medicine), policy support (such as the opening of Hainan's free trade port medical) and tourism resources advantage, gradually become an important player in the global medical tourism market.
Core types of China medical tourism packages
According to service contents and target groups, China's medical tourism packages can be divided into the following categories:
1. Disease treatment packages (for serious/difficult diseases)
The core of the package is the treatment of major diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, rare diseases, organ transplantation, etc., combined with post-operative rehabilitation.
Typical cases: Boao LeCheng, Hainan Typical case: Boao Lecheng International Medical Tourism Advance Zone in Hainan (relying on the policy of “licensed medical treatment, licensed research, licensed operation and licensed international medical exchanges”), which introduces international new medicines (such as anticancer medicines and targeted medicines not yet marketed domestically), high-end medical devices (such as proton therapy) and medical devices (such as proton therapy), and provides a variety of medical services. The introduction of international new drugs (e.g. anti-cancer drugs and targeted drugs not yet available in China) and high-end medical devices (e.g. proton therapy equipment and surgical robots) has attracted patients from Southeast Asia and around the world. For example, some leukemia patients use CAR-T cell therapy through LeCity while enjoying Hainan's rehabilitation and convalescent environment.
. Supporting services : Including overseas medical consultation, visa assistance, international insurance docking, multidisciplinary consultation (MDT), and post-operative rehabilitation guidance.
2. Health management package (physical examination + prevention)
High-end physical examination, early cancer screening, genetic testing as the core, combined with leisure vacation.
Typical Institutions: Shanghai United Family Hospital and Clinics (SHU) Typical organizations: Shanghai United Family Hospital (SHU), Beijing Meizhong Yiho Medical Center (BMYC), Guangzhou Aikang Guobin/CiMing and other private medical institutions offer “medical checkup + hot spring hotel” and “medical checkup + island tour”. “Medical checkup + island tour” packages. For example, Japanese tourists often choose high-end private hospitals in Sanya for a full-body precision medical checkup (including PET-CT and tumor marker tests) while staying at the Yalong Bay Resort.
. Features : Introducing international standard physical examination process (e.g. Japanese early cancer screening technology), providing personalized health report and follow-up services.
3. Rehabilitation Package (Chronic Disease/Post-Operative Rehabilitation)
With the core of Chinese medicine physiotherapy, spa rehabilitation and chronic disease management, it is suitable for post-operative recovery and chronic disease management.
Typical Destinations Typical destinations:
Traditional Chinese medicine resources: Chengdu, Sichuan Province (Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital), Foshan, Guangdong Province (Kushengtang Traditional Chinese Medicine Chain), Bozhou, Anhui Province (“Chinese Medicine Capital”).
Natural healing type: Bama, Guangxi (the world's longevity township, relying on negative oxygen ions, alkaline water, geomagnetic environment, providing “longevity village healing + Chinese medicine treatment” package);; Yunnan Kunming / Dali, Dali, Foshan, Guangdong (Kushengtang Chinese medicine chain), Bozhou, Anhui Province (“Chinese medicine capital”). Kunming/Dali, Yunnan (mild climate, combined with hot springs, medicinal baths, Tai Chi courses); and
Hot springs rehabilitation type: Fuzhou, Fujian (Gui'an Hot Spring), Nanjing, Jiangsu Province (Tangshan Hot Spring), some hotels and hospitals to cooperate, the introduction of “hot springs + rehabilitation training” packages (such as) Some hotels cooperate with hospitals to launch “hot spring + rehabilitation training” packages (such as hot spring spa for arthritis and diabetic patients). 4.
4. Medical beauty and plastic surgery packages (beauty + tourism)
The core of these packages is double eyelids, nose jobs, liposuction, skin management and other medical aesthetic programs, combined with sightseeing and shopping.
. Popular cities: Shanghai (Shanghai Jiuyuan Plastic Surgery), Beijing (Badaqi Plastic Surgery Hospital), Chengdu (Huahan Plastic Surgery), Sanya, Hainan (a number of private medical and aesthetic institutions).
. Package design: For example, the “Sanya 5-day medical beauty + tourism” package includes facial rejuvenation surgery (such as Thermage, ultrasonic scalpel), post-surgery restoration care, Wuzhizhou Island tour, duty-free shopping, etc., targeting mainly Southeast Asian women and domestic high net worth women. The target groups are mainly Southeast Asian women and domestic high net worth women.
the core advantages of China's medical tourism packages
1. Policy support and industry support
. Boao Lecheng in Hainan is the only “Medical Tourism Advance Zone” in China, which allows the use of medicines and medical devices (such as yttrium-90 microspheres for treating liver cancer and sodium nosinafil for treating spinal muscular atrophy) that have been marketed outside China but are not available domestically, as well as the reduction or exemption of import tariffs, which significantly reduces the costs for patients.
. Some regions (e.g. Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao) have piloted the “Hong Kong-Macao Drug and Medical Device Pass”, which allows designated medical institutions to use drugs and medical devices listed in Hong Kong and Macao, attracting Hong Kong, Macao and international patients.
2. Medical technology and cost-effectiveness
. Technological level: China has reached the international advanced level in cancer treatment (e.g., proton heavy ion radiation therapy), cardiovascular and cerebrovascular interventional surgery, and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) physical therapy; some private hospitals (e.g., United Family Hospitals (UFH) and United States-China Hospitals (US-China)) have introduced the JCI (Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Institutions) accreditation. Some private hospitals (e.g., United Family Hospitals and Clinics) have introduced JCI accreditation (Joint Commission on International Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations), bringing their service standards in line with international standards.
. Cost Advantage: Compared to developed countries in Europe and the United States, China's medical tourism packages offer outstanding value for money. For example, a PET-CT whole-body screening in the United States costs about 10,000 U.S. dollars, while similar services in private hospitals in China's first-tier cities require only 1/3-1/2 price; Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) physical therapy (e.g., acupuncture, tuina) costs only 1/2-2/3 of South Korea and Thailand.
3. Integration of culture and tourism resources
China's rich tourism resources (such as Sanya's beaches, Yunnan's minority cultures, Xi'an's historical monuments) can be combined with the medical experience to enhance the adhesion of tourists. For example, Thai tourists choose Sanya's “Traditional Chinese Medicine Physical Therapy + Tianya Haijiao Tour” package to experience Chinese culture as well as cure diseases.
the main crowd of China's medical tourism
. International crowd: mainly from Southeast Asia (Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand), Russia, and the Middle East (UAE, Saudi Arabia), preferring TCM physical therapy, cancer treatment, and medical and aesthetic plastic surgery; some European and American high-net-worth people choose China for high-end physical examination or chronic disease management.
. Domestic population : High-net-worth people (30-60 years old) in first- and second-tier cities, focusing on health management (e.g., high-end medical checkups, anti-aging), post-surgical rehabilitation (e.g., post-tumor surgery, post-operative joint replacement); some middle- and old-aged people choose Bama, Kunming, etc. for the “migratory bird-style health care”.
The Main Population of Medical Tourism in China
. International Crowd: mainly from Southeast Asia (Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand), Russia and the Middle East (UAE, Saudi Arabia), with a preference for traditional Chinese medicine physiotherapy, cancer treatment, medical and aesthetic plastic surgery; some European and American high-net-worth people choose China for high-end medical checkups or chronic disease management.
. Domestic population : High-net-worth people (30-60 years old) in first- and second-tier cities, focusing on health management (e.g., high-end medical checkups, anti-aging), post-surgical rehabilitation (e.g., post-tumor surgery, post-operative joint replacement); some middle- and old-aged people choose Bama, Kunming, etc. for the “Migratory bird-style health care”.
Challenges and Development Trends
Challenges
. Insufficient international recognition : Some foreign health insurance organizations have doubts about the qualification of Chinese medical institutions and the safety certification of drugs/devices, which affects the willingness to pay of the international clientele.
. Variable service quality: In 2023, the National Healthcare Commission will issue the Measures for the Administration of Medical Tourism (Draft for Public Comments).
. Language and cultural barriers: Translation and guidance services for international patients still need to be improved, and cross-cultural explanations of some TCM terms (e.g., “qi, blood,” “meridian”) are insufficient.
Development Trends
. Release of policy dividends: Hainan Free Trade Port, Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao Bay Area and other regions will further liberalize medical tourism policies (e.g., expanding the scope of licensed medicines and equipment, simplifying the process of international patients entering the country).
. Digital empowerment: Enhance the efficiency of international patient services through remote consultation, AI-assisted diagnosis and other technologies; use big data to accurately match the needs of customer groups (e.g. recommending spa packages for diabetic patients).
. Branding and internationalization: Head institutions (e.g., Boao Lesheng, United Family) will strengthen international accreditation (e.g., JCI, ISO) and cooperate with international insurance companies (e.g., Allianz, Prudential) to promote the “medical + insurance” linkage model. insurance" model.
In conclusion
China's medical tourism packages have become a “rising star” in the global medical tourism market by virtue of policy support, technological advantages and integration of resources. In the future, with the improvement of international recognition and the advancement of service standardization, it is expected to attract more tourists from all over the world, and become an important combination point of the “Healthy China” strategy and the “Culture and Tourism Integration” strategy.