Foreigners check-in to China for hospital expertise

Global beacon

Following his positive experience, Chalupsky recommended two patients from New Zealand — who had seen his medical journey on social media — to seek treatment at the Shanghai hospital.

"Such situations are becoming increasingly common, with many foreign patients taking the initiative to recommend us through social media," said Gong Yanchun, director of the international medical department at Ruijin Hospital.

The hospital's international medical services began in the 1990s, initially called foreign-related medical services and providing healthcare for expats in Shanghai.

Over the years, the international medical department has developed to now have independent wards, dedicated teams, and separate services. With nearly 100 beds, Ruijin is one of the largest public medical institutions in the country providing international medical services.

Last year, the outpatient volume at the international medical department was approximately 150,000 visits, representing growth of about 7 percent compared with 2024, the hospital said. The number of outpatient visits by foreign patients increased by around 15 percent year-on-year.

Not only are more foreign faces appearing in Chinese hospitals, but their treatment needs are also changing. In the early years, most foreigners came for physical examinations and imaging tests. Nowadays, they are more attracted by the specialized health fields offered by Chinese hospitals, said industry observers.

"In some typical cases, patients often have been to many countries, researched literature, consulted AI, and eventually traveled long distances to China," said Gong.

"They choose China not because it's cheaper, but because they recognize the world-class expertise that the hospitals here can offer," he said, citing as examples CAR-T cell therapy, treatment of complex neurological disorders, and proton therapy, which are among Ruijin's in-demand services.

Shanghai Renji Hospital's outstanding pediatric liver transplant techniques have made it a new destination for young patients from Asia and even further afield. For more than a decade, the hospital has achieved the highest number of pediatric liver transplants worldwide.

Shanghai Huashan Hospital, renowned for its advantages in neurosurgery, has not only become a beacon of hope for patients globally, but also a destination for foreign doctors to advance their training.

In September 2023, Shanghai launched a pilot program for international medical tourism in its public hospital system. Thirteen top-tier hospitals with high performances in innovation and technical capacity, as well as experience in treating international patients, were invited to join the program and asked to look at ways to provide better medical services for foreigners.

Official data showed that in the first half of 2024, the total volume of Shanghai's international medical services exceeded 300,000 visits.

A year after the pilot began, the list was expanded to 22 hospitals, mostly institutions with strength in specialized areas including oncology, cardiovascular disease, and neurology.

According to data released by the Chinese Hospital Association last year, a total of 850 medical institutions across 57 cities on the Chinese mainland provided international medical services.