China Medical Tourism: Country emerges as growing destination for international patients
BY :CGTN
UPDATED :2026-08-17
Against the backdrop of a rapidly growing cross-border medical tourism market, Guangzhou has emerged as a key hub for international cancer treatment.
According to the National Health Commission's 2025 report, key foreign‑oriented hospitals in China received 1.28 million international patients, marking a 73.6‑percent increase over three years.
What was once a niche offering has grown into a fast‑expanding cross‑border healthcare trend.
Dr. Peng says he has seen a sharp rise in foreign patients over the past decade, mostly from Southeast Asia. One of them is Ronald, a patient from Indonesia.
Dr. Peng Xiaochi "We combined interventional therapy and cryoablation. Phase-one results were positive."
Indonesian Patient "Yeah the treatment is very good and very nice. The doctors are very kindful. And Yeah, they helped me very good. And last week I get my first treatment, was a little bit painful, but Yeah, okay, that's normal. It's for a few days and now it's becoming a little bit better. So we will go on for the next week."
Patient's family "The conditions here are great. I feel reassured seeing him get treatment here."
Ronald's story mirrors a broader trend.
For overseas patients who find few viable treatment options at home, hospitals in Guangzhou offer reliable, minimally‑invasive treatment options, according to local physicians.
Attending physician Yang Zhiguo "Surgery went perfectly. Lesions are fully addressed."
Ronald left the hospital about one month after his procedure. His treatment took place amid new international medical policies rolled out in Guangzhou on April 29.
The city has rolled out 12 supportive measures and launched an international medical tourism services center.
The policy package covers end‑to‑end support: visa assistance, remote pre‑consultation, and streamlined cross‑border payment settlement.
Wang Shengwen, President of Sunbright Group, "From pre‑arrival assessment to post‑discharge cross‑border follow‑up, patients are freed from cumbersome paperwork."
Boosted by advancing medical technologies and improved administrative support, China is evolving into a major global hub for cross‑border medical travel — a new bright spot within China's service‑trade exports.
