CHINA

China Draws More Foreign Patients — but Medical Tourism Is Still a Niche

Published: Feb. 5, 2026 1:46 a.m. GMT+8

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The Shenzhen Hospital affiliated to the University of Hong Kong. Photo: VCG

A viral post about a 26-year-old British woman who traveled to China for stomach treatment — an ailment she said was resolved in 13 days for about 300 pounds ($409) after a long wait in the U.K. — has stirred fresh debate online about China’s appeal as a destination for medical care.

Some hospitals say they are seeing more overseas patients. Industry experts, however, say China’s medical-tourism business remains small and faces hurdles that keep it far behind regional rivals.

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China’s medical tourism sees increased attention but remains small, with fewer than 10,000 foreign patients in 2025 and key barriers like language, payment systems, and medical visas.
Public hospitals’ international departments can be 3–5 times more expensive; China lags far behind Malaysia, which had 1.6 million medical tourists in 2024.
Improvements like bilingual staff and better insurance/payment processes are needed for China to compete globally.

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Who’s Who

Shenzhen Qianhai Taikang Hospital: Shenzhen Qianhai Taikang Hospital saw a 130% increase in foreign patient visits in January 2026 compared to its monthly average since opening in August 2024. Overall patient visits at the facility grew by 73% during the same period, indicating a notable rise in its patient numbers, including international patients.

Saint Lucia Consulting: Saint Lucia Consulting is a cross-border medical service agency. Its chairman, Cai Qiang, believes China's medical tourism market is small, with fewer than 10,000 foreign patients in 2025. Wu Ming, a senior medical consultant, highlights language barriers, payment system limitations, and visa difficulties as key obstacles for foreign patients in China.

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What Happened When

2024：: Malaysia welcomed about 1.6 million medical tourists, according to the Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council.

August 2024：: Shenzhen Qianhai Taikang Hospital opened.

2025：: Fewer than 10,000 foreign patients came to China specifically for medical treatment, according to Cai Qiang.

2025：: Cai Qiang conducted a promotion in Malaysia and noted that local people knew very little about Chinese healthcare.

early January 2026：: A Caixin reporter visited Peking University People’s Hospital international medical department and observed that the majority of patients were Chinese nationals.

January 2026：: Shenzhen Qianhai Taikang Hospital reported that foreign patient visits were up by 130% compared to the monthly average since its opening in August 2024; overall patient visits grew by 73%.

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