China to allow wholly foreign-owned hospitals in select areas

Conditions, requirements, and procedures for set-up will be specified at a later date.

China has announced plans to permit the establishment of wholly foreign-owned hospitals in designated cities and regions

According to a circular, foreign-invested hospitals can be established in Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, Nanjing, Suzhou, Fuzhou, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and throughout the island of Hainan.

The circular further noted that the conditions, requirements, and procedures for setting up these hospitals will be specified at a later date.

Meanwhile, foreign-invested enterprises will be allowed to develop and apply technologies related to human stem cells and gene diagnosis and treatment in pilot free-trade zones in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangdong, and the Hainan Free Trade Port.

These enterprises must adhere to Chinese laws and regulations, including those concerning human genetic resource management, drug clinical trials, drug registration and production, and ethical review. They are also required to follow relevant management procedures.