13 hospitals were awarded the title of pilot units for international medical tourism in public hospitals, establishing the "Shanghai brand" of international medical care

To promote the "Shanghai brand" of international medical tourism, news came out at the "Phase Summary Meeting of the High-level Public Hospital International Medical Tourism Pilot" held this morning: 13 medical institutions in Shanghai were awarded the plaque of "Shanghai Public Hospital International Medical Tourism Pilot Unit". Deputy Mayor Chen Yujian attended the meeting.

As a major medical resource center in China, Shanghai has been exploring international medical services since the 1990s. Looking back at history, in 2020, Shanghai selected 10 pilot institutions and 10 seed cultivation institutions from social medical institutions, including Sino-foreign joint venture medical institutions, to launch an international medical tourism pilot. The third-level public hospitals gather the highest level of medical technology in the city, which can quickly form Shanghai's international medical brand from the "supply side". Based on this, last September, Shanghai officially launched the implementation of the international medical tourism pilot project of high-level public hospitals, and in June this year, the local standard "International Medical Service Specifications" was officially promulgated.

Shanghai serves the country's overall high-level opening-up, actively connects with international high-standard rules, and aims to "become one of the world's most renowned medical tourism destination cities and become one of the representatives of high-level and institutional openness in the country's medical and health care." It promptly summarizes the pilot experience and strengthens citywide promotion.

It is reported that in the first half of this year, Shanghai received more than 3 million inbound tourists, and inbound tourism is in the leading position in the country, which also brings important opportunities for international medical tourism. In May this year, Huashan Hospital and Shanghai Children's Medical Center also "formed a group" to go abroad and set up the first Shanghai International Medical Exhibition Booth at the Arabian Travel Expo held in Dubai.

The reporter learned that the pilot program of international medical tourism in high-level public hospitals has achieved initial results in the past year. Data shows that in the first quarter of this year, the 13 pilot hospitals provided international medical outpatient and emergency services to 133,900 people, a year-on-year increase of 31%; 8,700 people were hospitalized, a year-on-year increase of 28%; 48,000 people were settled with commercial insurance, a year-on-year increase of 30%, and the amount of commercial insurance settlement increased by 42% year-on-year. In the second quarter of this year, the 13 pilot hospitals provided international medical outpatient and emergency services to 162,900 people, a year-on-year increase of 22% and a month-on-month increase of 15%. In the first half of this year, the city's medical institutions served a total of 4,128 foreign and Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan inpatients, a year-on-year increase of 24.30%.

In the first half of this year alone, patients with difficult and complicated diseases from the Netherlands, Poland, Georgia, Russia, Uzbekistan, India, Malaysia, Vietnam, Mongolia and other countries have come to the pilot hospital for treatment. The Children's Hospital received 5 children with difficult and complicated diseases from Nigeria, Kyrgyzstan and other countries; Shanghai Children's Medical Center treated a Polish child with giant malignant hepatoblastoma, which was recognized by the wife of the Polish president; Huashan Hospital treated a Swedish patient with autoimmune encephalitis, and the treatment effect was obvious.

13 pilot hospitals have strengthened the construction of international medical departments from the hardware aspect. For example, Zhongshan Hospital has established a relatively independent information system for the international medical department, Ruijin Hospital has opened an intensive care unit for the international medical department, Renji North Hospital has opened an international medical clinic, and the First Women and Children's Hospital has completed the expansion of the outpatient area of ​​the international medical department. Pilot hospitals continue to improve the convenience of services in software. For example, Huadong Hospital has produced an international medical service guide, carried out commercial insurance inter-clinic settlement, and negotiated with banks to provide foreign currency exchange services in wards. The Pediatric Hospital provides short-distance shuttle services within the hospital, conducts bedside settlement, and expands children's emergency transfer services. The official account of the International Medical Department of Longhua Hospital has opened the expert appointment function and pushed the international medical treatment guide.

A relevant person in charge of the Municipal Health Commission introduced that the pilot work will last for a total of two years. In the next year, the pilot hospitals will make further progress. The Municipal Health Commission will work with the Municipal Culture and Tourism Bureau to further design medical tourism projects and publicity and promotion. Subsequently, it will plan international medical development from the aspects of optimizing service layout, enhancing core competitiveness, and expanding brand influence. It will consider implementing the "key international medical institution system" and further condense the "Shanghai brand" of international medical services.

Ruijin Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine

Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine

Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine

Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine