More than doctors' visits

[Photo by Cai Meng/China Daily]

More Chinese mainlanders are heading overseas to meld medical purposes with fun.

(While Chen has a terminal disease, most are generally healthy yet get advanced checkups while spending most of their time exploring the countries the hospitals are in.)

They visit Japan for diagnoses, the United States for cancer treatments and the United Kingdom for liver transplants－visiting landmarks, shopping and participating in luxury-leisure activities along the way, explains Robin Wang, a marketing officer with Beijing-based outbound-medical-tourism operator Hope Noah.

Japan's proximity and advanced healthcare has made it a popular destination for Chinese medical tourists. The country began offering medical visas in 2010 and local travel agencies began developing routes integrating hospital visits with attractions and shopping three years later.

The number of Chinese who visit the country for medical checks annually is expected to surpass 310,000 by 2020, and market value may reach $4.6 billion, a Development Bank of Japan report says.

Beijing Huihong International Travel Service took about 300 Chinese to Japan in 2015, a 30 percent year-on-year increase.

Most didn't have health problems but wanted checkups because of concerns about stress, pollution and food safety, general manager Huang Xujie says.

Many get genetic tests to determine their predispositions to diseases.

"The yuan's rise and trust in Japan's medical care have fueled the craze," Huang says.

The company's trips usually last about 10 days－two of which are earmarked for health exams－and cost 20,000-60,000 yuan ($3,260-$9,100).

"(China's) medical equipment may be as good, but service is a common complaint," Huang says.

Different doctors see different results from the same X-rays, he explains.