Foreign investors to be allowed to set up wholly-owned hospitals in China’s major cities

(ECNS) -- China will expand the opening up of the medical field by allowing wholly foreign-owned hospitals to be set up in some major cities, including Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, Nanjing and Suzhou in Jiangsu Province, Fuzhou in Fujian Province, Guangzhou and Shenzhen in Guangdong Province, and Hainan Province. 

However, foreign investors cannot run businesses relating to traditional Chinese medicine or acquire public hospitals, according to a circular jointly issued by the Ministry of Commerce, National Health Commission, and National Medical Products Administration on Saturday.

In terms of the biotech sector, foreign investors are allowed to develop and adopt technologies regarding human stem cells, as well as gene diagnosis and treatment in pilot free trade zones in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangdong, as well as in Hainan Free Trade Port.

They can also apply for market registration and mass production licenses. Relevant products can be used nationwide upon approval.

Foreign investors must abide by Chinese laws and regulations, and meet the requirements concerning human genetic resource management, drug clinical trials (international multi-center clinical trial included), drug registration and production, and ethical review, the circular noted. 

Specific conditions, requirements, and procedures for setting up wholly foreign-owned hospitals will be detailed later, it was added.