Nestled in the coastal town of Boao in south China's Hainan Province, the Boao Lecheng International Medical Tourism Pilot Zone is rapidly becoming a leading hub for health and innovation in China, drawing increasing attention from around the world and bringing new hope to patients and their families grappling with rare diseases.
At the pilot zone, also known as "Hope City", four-year-old Haohao, who was born deaf, is undergoing a course of life-changing treatment so he can hear. He received his first cochlea implant at a hospital near his countryside home, in east China's Anhui Province. But when it came time for the implant in his other ear, his family decided to travel to the Medical Tourism Pilot Zone.
"Haohao's doctor told us that he had a very serious gene mutation affecting his hearing in both ears. Before, I didn't believe that he would be able to hear. Now I think it's very helpful to get him this equipment, and I think it's better to do it here," said the boy's grandmother.
Haohao will receive the latest generation of the cochlea implant thanks to the Pilot zone's policy to fast-track access to new medical devices. The operation will make use of a stabilizing robotic arm, the first of its kind available in China.
There are also significant economic advantages for patients who travel to the Medical Tourism Pilot Zone. Imported medical devices enjoy duty-free status, pushing down the cost of treatment.
"Hainan now has a duty-free policy thanks to the special customs rules. That means the cochlea is imported on a tax-free basis, so it is cheaper than in other places. Then some of the cost is reimbursed through medical insurance, so the burden of patients has been greatly reduced," said Cui Jingwei, Deputy Chief Physician of the E.N.T. Dept at Boao Super Hospital.
Now, the pilot zone is home to over 30 top-tier domestic and international medical institutions and more than 500 pharmaceutical drugs and medical devices approved overseas but not yet available in the domestic market have been licensed for patients to access there.
"Our Lecheng pilot zone is the first to try this way of operating. We have already enjoyed the zero tariff policy - something exclusive to Boao. But after the special customs operations, there will be more places in Hainan like us that can enjoy preferential policies like ours," Cui said.
Hainan emerges as China's premier international medical tourism destination
