Shanghai is gearing up to become a center for medical tourism. The city is home to China’s largest expat community and attracts the highest number of inbound travelers, and its efforts to boost medical services for foreigners have accelerated in recent years. For example, Shanghai's Renji hospital is ranked first globally for pediatric liver transplants. Over the past decade, more than 3,200 pediatric liver transplants, including 41 for expat babies, have been performed at Shanghai’s Renji Hospital, which has become the world’s largest medical center for liver transplants. The number of pediatric liver transplants completed at the hospital has ranked first globally for 10 consecutive years.
“Although we lagged decades behind some developed countries when we began to perform such transplants, we’re now at the most advanced level in the world in this field,” Renji hospital President Dr. Xia Qiang said. “The 10-year survival rate for pediatric liver transplants at our center has reached over 90% – higher than what’s reported in Europe and the United States,” he added.
The successful liver transplants at Renji Hospital epitomize Shanghai’s rising international medical standing. In September, Shanghai launched a pilot program for international medical tourism in its public hospitals. Thirteen hospitals with outstanding innovation and technical capacity, as well as experience in treating international patients, were identified to join the program and also asked to look at ways to provide better medical services for foreigners. To date, nearly 270,000 patient visits have been made under the program, which has generated CNY1.66 billion in revenue, said the Shanghai Health Commission. All medical institutions in the city not involved in the pilot program are now also able to provide medical services to foreigners.
China’s medical prowess and facilities have been improving rapidly, with the number of surgeries performed far exceeding those in some Western nations. The convenience of online communication, visa access, and commercial health insurance now makes it possible for patients to choose doctors around the world, said industry experts.
Gu Jingwen, Director of the International Medical Center at Shanghai Huashan Hospital said that in the early days, many expats living in Shanghai preferred to return to their home countries for medical treatment when they were ill. They would even raise concerns with local doctors about routine surgery for medical conditions such as appendicitis. “Today, many choose to stay in Shanghai for treatment instead of heading back home, showing their rising recognition of the quality of local medical services,” she said. International services that meet patients’ needs also help improve the business environment and enhance the international status of Shanghai’s medical care, Gu said, as reported by the China Daily.
