China eyes medical tourism boost, but still a long way to go amid regional competition
China is not generally considered a go-to option for healthcare and treatments, with the US, South Korea, Japan and Turkey already on the map
When considering where in the world to go under the knife for non-essential surgery, or life-saving operations, would-be medical tourists frequently look to nations that have carved out a reputation for their expertise and affordability.
The United States boasts cutting-edge cancer treatments, South Korea has a niche for cosmetic surgery, Japan stands out for its comprehensive medical check-ups, and Turkey has a voluminous industry for hair transplants, to name a few.
But China is not generally considered a go-to option for healthcare and treatments, according to global medical tourism guide Patients Beyond Borders.
Renji Hospital in Shanghai, though, is on a mission to change that. Founded in 1844, the first Western medicine hospital in Shanghai, and also one of the oldest in China, has increasingly become a sought-after destination for paediatric liver transplants.
In the past decade, dozens of foreign children, mainly from Malaysia, have undergone liver transplants at Renji, which is one of the world’s largest medical centres for the highly complex and technically challenging procedure.
“Boosting international medical tourism is now our top priority,” explained the hospital’s deputy director, Sun Yun.
“We’re looking to bring what we’re good at to more people abroad.”
