What is Medical Tourism in China
In recent years, the total amount of medical and healthcare service resources in China has continued to grow, the level of medical technology capacity and medical quality has continued to improve, and the medical and healthcare infrastructure has become more and more perfect, resulting in the construction of the largest medical and healthcare system in the world. Medical personnel are in line with international standards and have traveled to overseas developed countries and regions for training and learning.
With the continuous improvement of China's medical service level, more and more international patients, especially overseas Chinese, choose to come to China for medical tourism.
China's Medical System
China's medical service system consists of non-profit public hospitals organized by the government and private hospitals organized by social forces. Hospitals in China are rated according to their size, scientific research direction, human resources and technical strength, medical hardware and equipment, etc., and are divided into three levels according to the Hospital Classification and Management Standards, with each level divided into A, B and C, and the third level adding a special class.
Top Medical Tourism Hospitals in China
1.Peking Union Medical College Hospital
Peking Union Medical College Hospital is a large-scale general hospital integrating medical treatment, scientific research and teaching, divided into two hospital districts in the east and west, which is famous in China and even in the world. Built in 1921, it has four hospital districts, more than 4,000 employees, three academicians of the two academies (academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering), and more than 2,000 inpatient beds. Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMC) was the first hospital in China to undertake the medical mission for foreign guests. Since the establishment of the International Medical Department in 1951, PUMC has always been committed to providing patients with high-quality healthcare services of international standards. It has independent outpatient clinics, emergency clinics and wards, with more than 200 single rooms and suites. The regular outpatient clinics cover more than 30 clinical specialties such as internal medicine, surgery, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, otorhinolaryngology, and stomatology, etc. It also provides a number of healthcare services such as specialists, direct payment of commercial insurance, medical cosmetology, night outpatient clinics, weekend outpatient clinics, and 24-hour emergency services.
2.Zhongshan Hospital of Fudan University
Zhongshan Hospital of Fudan University was founded in 1937 and is one of the earliest large-scale general hospitals founded and managed by the Chinese. With an authorized bed capacity of 2005, the hospital has more than 70 business institutions, 160 medical and nursing subspecialties, and 8 types of outpatient clinics, which can fully satisfy the multi-level and diversified treatment needs of patients. The clinical capabilities in the fields of heart, liver, kidney, lung, gastrointestinal tract and pan-vascular are at the top in China and advanced in the world.
Established in June 2021, the International Medical Department aims to provide high-quality, comprehensive and personalized medical services for patients by benchmarking with international first-class medical standards and innovating medical service models. The International Department has 2 floors of outpatient clinics and 5 floors of patient wards, with operating rooms, intensive care units, endoscopy centers, and is equipped with MRI, CT, molybdenum target and other large-scale examination equipment, as well as color ultrasound, cardiology ultrasound, dynamic electrocardiogram, lung function, etc.
3.West China Hospital of Sichuan University
West China Hospital of Sichuan University was founded in 1892, West China Clinical Medical College of Sichuan University originated in 1914 from the medical department of West China University of Medical Sciences, medical school and hospital in December 1993 “hospital hospital”. West China Hospital, the establishment of 4900 beds, 4300 open beds, there are 54 clinical departments (including 7 specialized disease centers), set up more than 200 kinds of specialties and specialized disease clinics. It has 54 clinical departments (including 7 specialized disease centers) with more than 200 kinds of specialized outpatient clinics. The hospital is in the leading position in the fields of adult living liver transplantation, early diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer, cardiac interventional therapy, cerebral neurosurgery and functional neurosurgery, combined traditional Chinese and Western medicine treatment of severe pancreatitis, minimally invasive gastrointestinal surgery, allogeneic laryngeal-tracheal-thyroid transplantation, clinical anesthesia, functional magnetic resonance, nuclear medicine, and so on.
The Special Needs Medical Center of West China Hospital of Sichuan University was established in May 2018, which was formerly known as “Gold Card International Medical Center of West China Hospital of Sichuan University”. The Special Needs Medical Center is currently set up in two hospital districts, namely the West China Headquarters and Wenjiang Branch, and is divided into three departments: Special Needs Outpatient Clinic, Special Needs Ward, and International Medical Care. It provides patients with the most professional and international high-quality medical treatment and full-cycle, whole-health humanized care medical services.
4.Huashan Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University
Huashan Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University was founded in 1907, formerly known as the General Hospital and Medical Hall of the Red Cross Society of China, which trained the earliest batch of modern medical talents for China. There are several hospital districts in Pudong, Hongqiao and North Hospital, with a total of 2,092 authorized beds and 40 clinical and technical departments. There are more than 4,000 employees, with more than 80% of them being medical professionals and technicians.
Founded in 1989, Huashan Hospital International Medical Center (HHIMC) is the first hospital in Shanghai to provide foreign medical services, with foreign patients coming from more than 100 countries and regions around the world, totaling more than 600,000 visits. It has 15 independent consultation rooms. The inpatient department is a two-story building with consultation rooms and 26 private rooms, creating a comfortable and warm international medical environment for patients.
International Medical Center Outpatient Department has obtained JCI certification, with neurosurgery, urology, orthopedic surgery, general surgery, sports medicine, rehabilitation medicine, cardiothoracic surgery, intensive care unit, neurology, integrated Chinese and Western medicine, cardiology, oncology and other departments.
5.Guangdong pray for blessing hospital
Guangdong pray for blessing hospital was founded in 2001, is China's first through the JCI certification of large-scale comprehensive tertiary hospital. The hospital has a large modern outpatient department, inpatient department, emergency center, stroke center, national chest pain center. The hospital provides high-end and personalized medical services for patients, such as National Medical Hall, VIP Center, International Health Management Center, Plastic Surgery and Beauty Center, and Postpartum Rehabilitation Center.
The hospital has a capacity of 3,000 beds, about 1,400 sets of international advanced equipments, more than 1,000 domestic and foreign professional medical, nursing, pharmacy and technical talents, and more than 200 experts above the level of vice high level. It is one of the first designated hospitals in Guangdong Province for foreign affairs and has received patients from more than 120 countries and regions.
Advantageous Medical Programs in China
.Parkinson's Disease
.Cataract Surgery
.Obesity Surgery
.Aesthetic Plastic Surgery
Medical Costs in China
The following is the cost of medical care in China versus different countries (in US Dollars):
China's medical malpractice and liability laws
China's medical malpractice laws are mainly applied in the form of the Regulations on the Handling of Medical Malpractice, the General Principles of the Civil Law, and the Tort Law. In the event of a civil liability dispute such as compensation for medical malpractice, doctors and patients can negotiate a settlement; if they do not wish to negotiate, or if the negotiation fails, the parties concerned can apply for mediation to the administrative department of health, or they can file a civil lawsuit directly with the People's Court.
Advantages of medical tourism in China
Advanced medical technology: China is famous for the cutting-edge technology of its hospitals and its advanced infrastructure, which provides high quality services for medical tourists.
Short waiting time: China has short waiting time for medical and surgical appointments.
Highly qualified medical staff: China's medical staff has received rigorous medical education and training, and many medical specialists have received training in developed countries and regions such as Europe and the United States.
Convenient travel: Many airlines have made China their destination, and airfare to China is affordable.
Disadvantages of medical tourism in China
Large population: China is one of the most populous countries in the world, so most hospitals are busy and not very suitable for medical tourism.
Fewer hospitals offering medical tourism: Most of the medical institutions in China are public institutions, and there are relatively few private medical institutions. Public hospitals need to provide international special medical services under the premise of effectively guaranteeing basic medical care, so there are relatively few hospitals that can offer medical tourism services.
Language barrier: Many Chinese medical experts only speak Chinese, and hospitals are not equipped with specialized interpreters, making it difficult for experts and patients to communicate effectively.
Late start, scale not yet formed: China's medical tourism started late, medical tourism resources are rich, but has not yet formed a scale. Relevant policies are not yet perfect.
Traveling to China
Average time needed to travel to China from different countries/cities (unit: hours):
Entry and Exit Requirements in China
According to the bilateral agreements or agreements signed or reached between China and relevant countries and the visa exemption policy implemented on a trial basis by the Chinese side, people from some countries who meet specific conditions are exempted from applying for visas when they come to China, and there is also a new 240-hour visa exemption policy in China, while other people need to apply for visas when they come to China.
Medical Tourism Statistics in China
According to mordorin telligence data, the global medical tourism market size is estimated to be USD 84.92 billion in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 239.37 billion by 2029, growing at a CAGR of 23.03% during the forecast period (2024-2029).
China's medical tourism is in a period of rapid growth, with huge development potential. Cai Qiang, vice president of the first committee of the International Medical Tourism Branch of the China Association of Non-public Medical Institutions, said that by 2028, the size of China's medical tourism market will not be less than $20 billion.