Prescription for Growth: China develops pilot hubs for international medical services

Medical tourism is on the rise globally. In China, nine government departments, including the Ministry of Commerce, have rolled out measures to boost inbound consumption, with medical services a key focus. Our reporter Huang Fei visited a leading hospital in South China to see what's drawing international patients.

Every day, some of the most complex surgeries are performed here. 

Doctor Li Zilun is preparing to operate on an aortic aneurysm — a ticking time bomb in the body's main artery. 

It's an increasingly common case in aging societies around the world. 

Li walks us through a case from a week ago, repairing a leak caused by a failed graft. 

LI ZILUN Professor, Deputy Director, Division of Vascular Surgery and IHC, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University "This was a very challenging case. And then we implant the covered stent, to eliminate the endoleak. Actually, the outcome was pretty good. The patient will be discharged today." 

Handling complex cases like this — combining international techniques with domestically developed tools — is helping draw patients from around the world. 

LI ZILUN Professor, Deputy Director, Division of Vascular Surgery and IHC, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University "Our government is encouraging innovation. So lots of physicians, including our vascular surgeons, we are actively involved in innovation — that helps to increase the effectiveness and safety, and also bring down the cost." 

As global demand for medical travel grows, China is positioning itself as a new destination. 

Official data shows Guangdong Province saw a 20 percent increase in foreign patients last year. 

Those coming for inpatient treatment rose even faster — up 76 percent. 

HUANG FEI Guangdong Province "China is developing pilot hubs for international medical tourism. This hospital is among the first in Guangdong to be designated by the provincial health commission. Patient numbers are going up. The challenge now is turning that demand into a seamless experience — from treatment to payment to everything in between."

Dedicated international medical centers like this aim to reduce waiting times and offer premium care. 

XIAO HAIPENG President, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University "It's fast. A patient comes here, 3-7 days, you can solve the problem."

Doctor Xiao Haipeng leads the hospital — and its growing international partnerships with leading institutions like Harvard. 

XIAO HAIPENG President, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University "I think you can see not just for China, for the whole globe, we are facing health care challenges. Emerging infectious disease and chronic, long infectious diseases. And also the aging population, the shortage of healthcare workforce."

China is pitching its solutions, from AI-powered workflows to increased investment in research and global engagement. 

XIAO HAIPENG President, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University "In recent years, (our) innovation in Western medicine is dramatically growing. In the past a few years, we have 140 innovations. And seven of them are international leading innovations."

Here in Guangdong, regulators are drawing clear boundaries. 

International services are limited to self-paying patients or those with commercial insurance and must not come at the expense of public healthcare. 

HUANG FEI Guangdong Province "China's healthcare system is moving fast, with technology and service now reaching global standards. It's opening up to international patients and in turn, raising the bar for innovation and care at home. Huang Fei, CGTN, Guangzhou." 

Source：CGTN