China is making a determined effort to establish itself as a key player in the global medical tourism market, a field traditionally dominated by countries such as the United States, South Korea, Japan, and Turkey. While China has made significant strides in advancing its healthcare technology and medical services, it still lags behind its competitors in attracting international patients. This development holds broader implications for the travel industry, particularly as China seeks to tap into the lucrative global medical tourism market. However, challenges remain, and the question arises: can China truly rival its well-established competitors in the near future?
Shanghai’s Renji Hospital, one of the oldest hospitals in China, has emerged as a leading facility for pediatric liver transplants, attracting patients from Southeast Asia. The hospital’s deputy director, Sun Yun, emphasized that expanding international medical tourism is now a top priority. Shanghai, with its large expatriate population and significant inbound tourism, is well-positioned to become a medical tourism hub. The city treated nearly 270,000 foreign patients in 2023, and authorities are actively working on developing international medical service standards, set to be unveiled later this year.
Beyond Shanghai, Shenzhen, located just across the border from Hong Kong, has also launched initiatives to attract medical tourists. In 2022, the city drew 770,000 medical tourists, primarily from Hong Kong and Macau, due to its lower prices compared to private hospitals in neighboring cities. Boao, situated in the southern island province of Hainan, opened a medical tourism pilot zone 11 years ago, branding itself as “Hope City” and specializing in health management and anti-aging aesthetic medicine.
Despite these efforts, China’s medical tourism sector is still in its infancy compared to other countries with established reputations for excellence in specific medical fields. South Korea is renowned for cosmetic surgery, the United States for cancer treatments, Japan for comprehensive check-ups, and Turkey for hair transplants. As a result, China has a long way to go before it can compete on a global scale.
The expansion of China’s medical tourism sector will have significant global ramifications, particularly within the travel industry. With China’s growing focus on this sector, international tourists seeking medical treatment may begin to explore options in Shanghai and other Chinese cities. If China can continue to improve the quality of its medical services and attract foreign patients, it could become a major player in the global medical tourism market.
However, China’s medical tourism offerings are still not widely recognized internationally. Language barriers and relatively high prices compared to competitors like Thailand and Taiwan may deter tourists from seeking medical treatment in China. Tourists from countries like South Korea, where the medical tourism sector is already highly developed, may prefer domestic options due to convenience and familiarity. Additionally, Southeast Asian patients may continue to choose nearby destinations such as Penang and Singapore, which offer competitive pricing and quality services.
Despite China’s advances in healthcare, including its efforts to promote medical tourism in cities like Shanghai and Shenzhen, the country faces several challenges. Many of its neighbors have well-established medical tourism sectors, with Thailand being ranked among the top five medical tourism destinations globally. Thailand’s reputation for hospitality, affordable medical services, and English-speaking healthcare professionals continues to attract foreign patients. In comparison, China is still building its reputation in the medical tourism industry.
While Renji Hospital has seen success in attracting patients for pediatric liver transplants, other designated hospitals, such as Shanghai Children’s Medical Centre, have seen limited success. For instance, only two young patients from Europe have been flown to the hospital since the city’s medical tourism initiative launched in September 2022. Furthermore, Taiwan remains a strong competitor in the region, offering cost-effective healthcare services with high-quality standards. Taiwan’s healthcare system is known for its advanced medical devices, efficient utilization, and well-equipped hospitals. In 2023, Taiwan treated approximately 228,000 medical tourists, positioning itself as a leader in the region.
China’s growing medical tourism sector presents an opportunity for the country to become a major destination for international patients. With cities like Shanghai and Shenzhen at the forefront, China has the potential to expand its influence in the global market. However, it must overcome significant hurdles, including building a reputation for quality services, reducing language barriers, and offering competitive pricing. As China continues to develop its medical tourism offerings, the travel industry will play a vital role in supporting this growth. From airlines and tour operators to hotels and service providers, a successful medical tourism sector could drive increased travel to China and benefit the broader tourism market.
