China has announced its plans to permit the establishment of fully foreign-owned hospitals in nine regions across the country, including its capital, as part of a broader effort to invigorate its economy amidst a decline in foreign business confidence.
The Chinese Ministry of Commerce unveiled this initiative in a statement on its official website, revealing that the move is part of a pilot program designed to honor a commitment made by the Central Committee of the Communist Party, led by Xi Jinping, during their July plenary session.
The statement outlined the objective of the policy: "To attract foreign investment in order to advance the high-quality development of China’s healthcare sector and better address the medical and health needs of the population, a pilot program will be launched to further open up the medical field."
Under the new regulations, fully foreign-owned hospitals will be permitted in Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, Nanjing, Suzhou, Fuzhou, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Hainan—regions noted for their economic affluence in eastern and southern China.
However, the policy will not apply to hospitals specializing in traditional Chinese medicine or those involved in the merger and acquisition of public hospitals. Detailed conditions, requirements, and procedures for establishing these foreign-owned hospitals will be outlined in subsequent announcements.
Additionally, foreign-invested companies will be allowed to develop and apply gene and stem cell technologies for treatment and diagnostic purposes within the pilot free-trade zones of Beijing, Shanghai, Guangdong, and Hainan. This includes the registration, marketing, and production of related products available for nationwide distribution.