Society

Growth in Chinese 'birth tourism' to US

By Gao Qihui (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2011-06-07 15:13

An increasing number of Chinese women are choosing to give birth in the United States amid a growing business in Nanjing city, capital of East China's Jiangsu province, the local Yangzi Evening News reported Tuesday.

The number of agencies offering the service to expectant Chinese mothers has also increased as demand by rich families to give birth in the US grows.

The move follows a decision by Hong Kong authorities to?restrict mainland mothers from giving birth due to pressure on their health service.

Most agencies charge between 160,000 yuan and 200,000 yuan ($30,886) for the service which includes flights, maternity stay, and treatment. One agency situated next to a hospital in Nanjing claims to seek obstetric services directly in the US would cost 150,000 yuan alone.

This agency which originally only provided cross-border baby delivery in Hong Kong started its US service last year. One of its web pages promoting the US service has received more than 10,000 hits.

Though the agency arranges the whole process for expectant mothers, concerns still linger about the risks and the quality of care once stateside.

In April, the Hong Kong government disclosed seven new measures for mainland mothers seeking obstetric services at any of the city's hospitals, aimed at discouraging expectant mothers from traveling to the city to give birth.