Foreigners check-in to China for hospital expertise

Oscar Chalupsky, a former captain of South Africa's Olympic kayaking team and a 12-time world champion, was diagnosed with a high-risk form of multiple myeloma — a type of bone marrow cancer — six years ago.

He sought treatment in multiple countries, including South Africa, Portugal, and Germany, and without exception was told by doctors his condition was too "difficult to treat or even hopeless".

Using artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT and DeepSeek, he searched for "the world's best hematology department" and set his sights on Ruijin Hospital in Shanghai. "I didn't come to this Shanghai hospital to just have a try. I have high expectations for Chinese healthcare," said the 62-year-old.

After communicating online in November, the international medical department and hematology team at Ruijin Hospital decided to accept Chalupsky for a pre-treatment evaluation in Shanghai. In December, he flew to Shanghai and underwent evaluations, including a whole-body PET-MR, bone marrow biopsy, and T-cell function tests. After that, a treatment plan was developed.

Armed with a plan based around CAR-T cell therapy, a new frontier in cancer treatment, he kicked off his treatment locally. CAR-T therapy involves isolating T-cells from a patient's blood and reprogramming them to attack cancer cells after they are reinfused into the body.

Chalupsky's story highlights a growing trend of what netizens have dubbed "reverse medical tourism", where individuals travel to China for healthcare services.

The trend marks a significant shift from what happened up until 10 years ago, when some Chinese patients traveled to Western countries for medical care. Now, patients from overseas are coming to China, drawn by the country's medical expertise and advanced facilities.

Beyond the country's advantages of efficiency and cost, industry experts said foreign patients are increasingly coming to China to seek treatment for complex health conditions, including cancer. China's healthcare system boasts unmatched strengths in specialized areas, such as proton therapy, targeted drugs, and CAR-T cell therapy, with advanced technology and extensive clinical experience, they said.

"China has found a balance in the global healthcare 'impossible triangle' of high quality, affordability, and short wait times," said Wang Jian'an, an academician with the Chinese Academy of Sciences and a national political adviser from the medical sector.