Reporter Ding Yayi, Ma Tong, Wang Dong, Xiao Zhendong
Foreign faces are becoming more common in hospitals in Beijing and Shanghai, and in Hainan's "special medical zones." While China has launched a visa-free entry policy to attract foreign tourists, many foreign patients are also targeting China's efficient and distinctive medical service system.
On August 9, doctors at the Heihe Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Heilongjiang Province treated Russia tourists. (Visual China)
Foreign bloggers talk about their medical experience in China
In early October, blogger Livinlavidaluke from the United Kingdom came to Shanghai with her family to get her father diagnosed and treated. He mentioned in the video that his father had been tortured for the past three months, but he still had to wait in line for nearly 26 weeks to have an MRI and other tests. At Shanghai Ruijin Hospital, they were immediately scheduled for an MRI examination and were further diagnosed based on the results. One blogger praised the efficiency of Chinese hospitals, bluntly saying that the attending doctor's diagnosis in fluent English "knows better than the United Kingdom doctor." ”
Martin, a cancer patient from Switzerland, shared his experience of going to a hospital in Chengdu for treatment in July. In the video, he mentions that the doctor's pulse and other diagnostic techniques are very different from what he has experienced in European hospitals. In a follow-up video, he said that this medical experience in China has changed his understanding of his illness, both physically and mentally.
Foreign tourists experience the TCM health care program. (Visual China)
"The act of patients crossing borders to seek medical care in other countries is generally referred to as medical tourism." Dr. Zhuang Yiqiang, director of the management center of Guangzhou Alibi Hospital, told the Global Times on the 17th that this phenomenon is usually based on several reasons: first, patients may think that the medical level of their country is not as good as that of other countries; Second, some countries may allow some medical procedures that have not yet been approved by the international community, such as stem cell transplantation and euthanasia in Switzerland; In addition, some countries have restrictions on certain medical procedures, such as abortion, while others do not. Of course, there are also issues of medical costs and cost-effectiveness.
Zhuang Yiqiang said that China has great potential in medical tourism, and has attracted many foreign patients in recent years. For example, Nanning attracts wealthy people from Southeast Asian countries, while the First People's Hospital of Kashgar Prefecture (Kashgar Hospital affiliated to Sun Yat-sen University) in Xinjiang attracts wealthy patients from Central Asian countries.
The Hainan Free Trade Port Boao Lecheng International Medical Tourism Pilot Zone (hereinafter referred to as the "Pilot Zone") is the only "Special Medical Zone" in China. The Global Times reporter learned from the Pilot Zone that from January to August 2024, the Pilot Zone received 262,300 medical tourists, double the same period last year. At present, more than 440 kinds of licensed drugs and devices have been introduced in the Pilot Zone, and 31 medical institutions have opened and operated, including seven characteristic core specialties such as rare diseases, tumors, ophthalmology, physical examination, and medical aesthetics, providing disease prevention, health management, early screening, precision medicine, and rehabilitation treatment programs.
Hu Lu, deputy general manager of Hainan Boao Lecheng Cultural Industry Development Co., Ltd. and head of the international medical tourism department, said that before foreign tourists enter the country, local medical tourism service agencies in Lecheng will conduct preliminary consultations with tourists to assess medical needs and travel preferences. Upon arrival, the necessary health diagnosis will be carried out, after which the visitor will receive the corresponding treatment. During the treatment and rehabilitation, visitors can also experience the characteristic scenery and cultural activities of the surrounding area.
Surgery, see a Chinese doctor
Xie Yijiong, tutor of the Institute of National Governance of Peking University and deputy director of the Information Dissemination Committee of the China Non-prescription Drug Association, told the Global Times on the 16th that the technical ability and medical quality level of the medical and health industry are an important manifestation of a country's comprehensive national strength and international competitiveness. At present, the international medical tourism services that China is promoting are mainly promoted in an organized, planned and scoped manner on the premise of fully guaranteeing the medical treatment of domestic patients.
In September this year, the city of Shanghai awarded 13 medical institutions as pilot units for international medical tourism in public hospitals in Shanghai. Shenzhen has also preferred 10 hospitals to carry out international medical tourism pilots this year.
In Beijing, medical services for foreigners are also being optimized. A doctor at a tertiary hospital in Beijing told the Global Times: "There are more and more cases of people coming here from overseas to see a doctor, and many of them are coming for major surgery. Most of them are interested in China's advantages of fast medical treatment process and short operation schedule. ”
Zhu Yuqing, medical director of the International Department of the China-Japan Friendship Hospital, told the Global Times on the 18th that the international patients currently received by the hospital are not only from developing countries in Africa, but also from developed countries in Europe and the United States. On the one hand, the level of medical technology in China, whether it is the level of medical technology or treatment facilities and equipment, has reached the level of developed countries in Europe and the United States, which is especially reflected in the first-tier cities; On the other hand, the service efficiency of the domestic medical system is higher than that of some European and United States countries. "Some United States and European patients choose to come to China for surgery, and if they are treated locally, the queue time for surgery sometimes exceeds three months. In the case of tumors, three months is enough time for patients to miss the opportunity for surgery, and in this case, the efficiency advantage of China's medical system is reflected. ”
In addition, there are many overseas patients who come to China to experience TCM treatment. In 2024, Chaoyang District, Beijing will launch a pilot international service base for traditional Chinese medicine. The Global Times reporter learned from the traditional Chinese medicine foreign-related clinic of the Sanlitun Community Health Service Center that many foreigners wanted to experience decoction, acupuncture, cupping and other techniques. Zhuang Yiqiang said that Chinese traditional medicine, acupuncture and massage are unique in the world, and their international acceptance also varies from country to country. Germany has a relatively high level of trust in TCM, while United States sees TCM as an alternative to medicine. Xie Yijiong believes that traditional Chinese medicine should be regarded as a major brand of medical tourism in China. "The core of TCM culture is 'curing diseases', which effectively reduces medical costs."
Promote the improvement of China's medical level
Xie Yijiong told the Global Times that promoting the development of medical tourism services is also a development link to promote the introduction and cultivation of domestic talents. This will encourage more physicians to go to the international stage, establish a mechanism for the introduction of overseas clinicians, and attract more international patients by introducing excellent overseas clinicians, and improve the internationalization level of domestic medical services. The level of medical services in China will also be developed and improved.
Tian Guogang, medical director of the Lecheng Administration, said that on June 5 this year, the "Implementation Measures for the Practice of Foreign Doctors in the Hainan Boao Lecheng International Medical Tourism Pilot Zone" further simplified the approval procedures for the practice of foreign doctors in the Lecheng Pilot Zone. In the next step, the Lecheng Pilot Zone will continue to promote open innovation to attract more foreign doctors.
Zhu Yuqing told reporters that to undertake international medical services, the need is not only excellent medical technology, but also a complete supporting system, "peripheral service processes, nursing standards, hardware facilities, as well as catering and medical documents need to be different from the requirements of ordinary medical care, at present, there are more than ten hospitals in Beijing in the pilot international medical service standards." According to Zhu Yuqing, Beijing is establishing an international medical data quality control platform, and it is believed that Beijing will become a favored destination for international patients in the future. ▲