The Lecheng International Medical Tourism Zone in eastern Hainan Island says it is three years ahead of schedule for foreign medical product registration, clearing more than 200 medical devices and drugs requiring medical clearance. special user license. With the advanced foreign medical technology in the area, the local authority says Chinese citizens and foreigners have the opportunity to seek treatment on the island without having to travel to other countries where these drugs and equipment are produced. . They also note that treatment costs have come down and claim that corneal transplants in Hainan will now cost seven times less than in the United States.

By the end of 2021, the Zone had registered more than 200 imported medical devices and medicines. The list of reimbursable drugs covered by its insurance system includes 100 types of special medical products, 75% of which are produced by foreign pharmaceutical companies.

39 of these devices and drugs are designed to treat cancer, 38 help in the rehabilitation of patients after injuries and illnesses, 31 are used in the field of ophthalmology and 28 are used in cardiology.

The minimum “Lecheng” national insurance package for the purchase of pharmaceuticals is 39 yuan per year (6 US dollars) and 29 yuan (5 US dollars) for residents of Hainan. Over 1.7 million people bought it in 2020.

The number of patients using them in Hainan has increased by 454 percent according to the Lecheng area administration, reaching its goal not in 2025, but three years earlier.

Authorities remain vague on the actual numbers for 2021 but the 2025 target is 250,000 medical tourists. Almost all come from mainland China.

Hainan reported 19,000 medical tourists in 2017, 32,000 in 2018, 68,000 in 2019, and 83,900 in 2020. An increase of 83,900 by 454% is 382,630. If the five years are added together, that’s about 250,000 .