Boao Lecheng International Medical Tourism Pilot Zone in Qionghai, Hainan province, launched a one-stop services center recently, aiming to streamline medical travel for international patients seeking cutting-edge treatments on the tropical island.
The move will help integrate more than 40 medical institutions within the zone, establishing cross-agency coordination for real-time information sharing and seamless patient referrals. Services include visa assistance, cross-border transfer coordination, recovery care and cultural tourism, supported by a foreign-language hotline and an international visitor management platform. It also introduced a service officer system, assigning dedicated staff to accompany each foreign patient through all related details.
The launch came just days after an example was provided of the untapped demand such services aim to meet. On May 18, a 34-year-old Russian university professor received treatment in Lecheng using cutting-edge boron neutron capture therapy, a precision cancer treatment that targets malignant tumors with a localized “nuclear blast”. After the treatment, he spent several days touring Qionghai.
The above-mentioned case underscores Lecheng”s broader ambition: to blend top-tier medical care with Hainan’s natural appeal. To capitalize on such advantages, officials said the zone will develop packages combining traditional Chinese medicine, beach vacations and cultural experiences, linking with nearby cities and counties.
Data show Lecheng hosted nearly 10,000 overseas medical trips in 2025, serving patients from 14 countries and regions including Russia, Canada and the Middle East. Between January and April, the zone received nearly 500,000 medical tourism visits, with over 4,000 of them being from overseas.
The zone’s growth is powered by preferential policy advantages. As China’s only area with special rules for cross-border medical care, research, operations and international exchange, Lecheng has introduced 570 innovative pharmaceuticals and devices, benefiting nearly 280,000 patients.
Jin Jiabin, deputy director of Ruijin Hospital Hainan Branch, said patient convenience and surrounding facilities are key to ensuring good medical treatment and a healing environment.
Liu Xinjian, vice-president of Hainan Mellsser Hospital, said the new services will help create efficient, secure cross-border care. Mellsser’s multilingual staff — covering English, Japanese, Thai and Arabic — work with global partners including the Mayo Clinic and Cedars-Sinai.
With Hainan offering visa-free entry to citizens from 86 countries, and following the launch of island-wide special customs operations, Lecheng is accelerating its bid to become an international medical tourism destination. The message, officials said, is a long-term invitation to the world.
chenbowen@chinadaily.com.cn
