Guangdong unveils first 25 pilot hospitals for international medical services

Guangdong province has officially designated its first batch of 25 pilot hospitals for international medical services, according to a joint announcement on March 26 by the Provincial Health Commission, the Provincial Healthcare Security Administration, and the Provincial Medical Products Administration.

These hospitals will provide medical services that adhere to internationally recognized standards in technology, procedures, management systems, and payment methods. The initiative targets patients who pay out-of-pocket or hold international commercial insurance, including residents from Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan, foreign nationals, and overseas Chinese.

Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Photo: Nanfang Daily)

The pilot hospitals are primarily located in the Pearl River Delta region and include provincial and ministerial-level institutions, renowned traditional Chinese medicine hospitals, leading municipal hospitals, and high-quality private hospitals.

According to the Health Commission of Guangdong Province, the international medical services are strictly for self-funded patients or those covered by international commercial insurance, with costs not covered by basic medical insurance. Pilot hospitals have the authority to set their own prices for these services.

In terms of management, the pilot hospitals are required to maintain a strict physical separation between international medical services and basic medical services. The international services will utilize new hospital beds, operate in independent zones, and have dedicated service teams to ensure a full closed-loop service experience.

The pilot period is set for 2026 and 2027. Authorities will dynamically adjust the list of pilot institutions based on operational performance, service quality, and public feedback.

The move comes as data shows a significant rise in demand, with the number of foreign nationals seeking medical treatment in Guangdong in 2025 increasing over 20 percent year-on-year, while hospitalization needs surged by 76.05 percent. The pilot program aims to better meet the diverse healthcare needs of these groups, as well as some domestic patients.

List of the first 25 pilot hospitals for international medical services in Guangdong

1.  Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital

2.  Guangdong Provincial Women and Children Hospital

3.  The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University (Yuexiu and Nansha Districts)

4.  Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital

5.  The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University

6.  Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University

7.  Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center

8.  Hospital of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University

9.  The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University

10. Nanfang Hospital of Southern Medical University

11. Zhujiang Hospital of Southern Medical University

12. The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University

13. Guangdong Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital

14. The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College

15. The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University

16. Guangzhou First People's Hospital

17. Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center

18. Shenzhen People's Hospital

19. Peking University Shenzhen Hospital

20. The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital

21. Shenzhen Hospital of Southern Medical University

22. The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University

23. Zhuhai People's Hospital

24. Clifford Hospital

25. Foshan Fosun Chancheng Hospital