A foreign blogger suffering from severe stomach pain traveled all the way to China for medical treatment after becoming frustrated with the low efficiency of healthcare services in his home country. Recently, similar videos have gone viral on social media, sparking discussion about the growing number of foreigners coming to China for medical care.
Are more and more foreigners experiencing “medical care in China”? Why are they willing to travel so far rather than seek treatment closer to home? And what impact does this trend have on healthcare access for Chinese residents? To address these public concerns, Xinhua Viewpoint reporters interviewed relevant government departments and medical experts.
The Number Is Growing, but Foreign Patients Still Account for a Small Share
“My nose isn’t blocked anymore. I feel so much better!”
Recently, 68-year-old Canadian Franco Caputo experienced traditional Chinese medicine ear acupuncture during the “International Medical Open Day” event at Peking Union Medical College Hospital in Beijing.
In 2023, Franco received treatment at the hospital’s International Medical Center for intestinal polyps, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and Helicobacter pylori infection. Since then, he has returned to China for medical care every year. He says that although Canada has family doctors, waiting times can be lengthy, and treatment is not necessarily effective.
From people hoping to get their stomach problems treated sooner to those looking to undergo an MRI more quickly, stories of foreigners traveling thousands of miles to China for medical care have recently appeared frequently online. Are foreigners really “flocking” to China for treatment?
Officials at several hospitals told reporters that, based on their institutions’ patient data, foreign patients currently account for a relatively small proportion of total patients, but their numbers are growing. As China continues to expand its visa-free “circle of friends,” more foreign visitors are also seeking emergency medical care after encountering urgent health issues while traveling.
“Compared with previous years, the number of foreign patients at our International Medical Center has increased, with the growth becoming particularly noticeable since 2024,” said Tian Zhuang, director of the International Medical Center at Peking Union Medical College Hospital’s Dongdan Campus.
A representative of the International Medical Center at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University said that although the overall number of foreign patients remains relatively small, it has been growing rapidly. Patients mainly come from Russia, Singapore, the United States, Indonesia, Malaysia, South Africa, and other countries.
Hao Siguo, a leading hematology specialist at Xinhua Hospital affiliated with Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, said that since a new drug for relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma was approved by China’s National Medical Products Administration in 2024, the hospital has treated 11 patients from overseas or Hong Kong and Macao. Four came in 2024 and seven in 2025.
According to the 2024 China International Medical Services Industry Development Report released by the International Medical Services Committee of the Chinese Hospital Association, incomplete statistics show that 850 medical institutions in 57 cities across mainland China (excluding Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan) provide international medical services.
China’s Strengths in Certain Fields Are Increasingly Attracting Foreign Patients
Reporters found that foreigners seeking medical care in China include those who have been living and working in the country for an extended period, those who travel to China specifically for medical treatment, and those who come primarily to experience traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) services.
Industry experts say that one important reason more foreigners are seeking medical care in China is that the country has unique advantages in certain areas of healthcare.
A relevant official from the Department of Medical Administration of China’s National Health Commission said that China has accumulated more extensive clinical experience and developed advanced technical capabilities in certain medical specialties. The costs of advanced treatments and medicines, including proton therapy and targeted drugs, are also lower than those in developed countries.
One patient from the Middle East chose to seek treatment at a Chinese hospital on the recommendation of a doctor in the United States. In another case, the parents of a Polish child learned through an international medical database about the strengths of a Shanghai hospital’s cardiothoracic surgery department and decided to bring their child to China for treatment. Interviews conducted by reporters found that complex and difficult-to-treat conditions, including cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and neurological disorders, are increasingly among the medical needs of some foreign patients coming to China.
Meanwhile, as traditional Chinese medicine gains greater international recognition, treatments such as acupuncture, moxibustion, and tuina, along with certain distinctive Chinese herbal medicines, are becoming increasingly popular among foreign patients.
Wu Qunli, director of the Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine at Peking Union Medical College Hospital, gave an example: Some patients with metabolic syndrome who experience symptoms such as coldness, numbness or pain in the hands and feet, excessive sweating, and insomnia seek Chinese herbal medicine and acupuncture treatment while visiting China. One reason is their understanding that TCM emphasizes a “holistic approach” and “treatment based on syndrome differentiation.”
Liu Xinyan, director of the International Medical Department at Guang’anmen Hospital of the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, said that among foreign patients at the hospital, the most sought-after medical services are concentrated in areas such as oncology, cardiovascular diseases, endocrine and metabolic disorders, and rheumatic and autoimmune diseases. In Suifenhe, Heilongjiang Province, Russian patients often come to seek TCM treatment for neck and lower back pain. In Sanya, Hainan Province, foreign visitors are particularly interested in TCM health and wellness tourism programs that combine medical treatment with wellness services.
According to available information, Beijing has launched two batches of 40 international medical tourism packages featuring traditional Chinese medicine, offering foreign visitors TCM services with clearly defined treatment plans, predictable therapeutic outcomes, and relatively predictable treatment timelines.
Prudent Development for a “Win-Win” Outcome at Home and Abroad
As China continues to deepen its opening-up, experiences such as “eating in China,” “traveling in China,” and “seeking medical care in China” are increasingly attracting foreign visitors. However, some have raised concerns: Could the growing number of foreign patients seeking medical care in China put pressure on healthcare resources available to Chinese residents?
According to relevant national policies, public hospitals must provide international medical services while ensuring the provision of basic medical care. The Guiding Opinions of the General Office of the State Council on Comprehensive Reform Pilot Programs for Urban Public Hospitals call for controlling the scale of special medical services in public hospitals, with such services accounting for no more than 10% of all medical services.
Experts from several hospitals told reporters that doctors conduct international medical consultations and treatments only after ensuring that basic medical services are provided. Foreign patients receiving care through international medical departments generally pay through commercial insurance or out of pocket, and therefore do not use funds from China’s public medical insurance system.
A relevant official from the Department of Medical Administration of China’s National Health Commission said that after years of deepening reform, China’s basic medical service system, centered on public medical institutions, has become increasingly robust. Against this foundation, the development of international medical services by public hospitals can help expand the supply of healthcare resources and provide a beneficial supplement to basic medical services.
Experts from the Chinese Hospital Association believe that the comprehensive development of international medical services can also generate positive spillover effects for public hospitals. For example, advanced concepts and operational experience developed through international medical services can provide valuable lessons, while the revenue generated can be used to expand the provision of basic medical services.
In addition, China has allowed the establishment of wholly foreign-owned hospitals on a pilot basis in nine provinces and municipalities, which is expected to better meet the increasingly diverse healthcare needs of both foreign nationals and Chinese residents.
Experts including Saren, deputy director of the Sanya International Friendship Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and Xu Xiaoping, Party Secretary of the University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, said that China could, while appropriately controlling the proportion of international medical services, develop accessible and user-friendly service platforms for foreign patients; send medical personnel abroad to learn advanced technologies and management practices; strengthen multilingual services and facilitate international payments; and develop a number of medical destinations with global appeal.
Source: Xinhua News Agency International
https://www.news.cn/world/20260120/1069ea74bb504442b563e130268feb7a/c.html
