China Medical Tourism Statistics 2025-2026
Dated, sourced data on international patient volumes, hospital counts and grades, Fudan top-tier hospitals, advanced-therapy approvals, and entry requirements for medical travel to China. Every figure cites its source and date; figures we cannot verify are not published.
Last updated: October 2026 · Sources cited below each section
Key Statistics at a Glance
The most-cited data points about medical tourism in China — each with its source and date.
International Patient Volume
China Economic Weekly reported 1.28 million international patient visits at key international-facing hospitals in 2025, with growth of 73.6% over three years, citing an NHC report. The figure covers visits at the hospitals included, not unique inbound medical tourists. The underlying NHC report has not been independently verified.
Source: China Economic Weekly, May 18, 2026
Source: Shanghai Municipal Government, Feb 27, 2026 (city-level data; not a national figure)
| Year | Visits by foreign-passport holders (Shanghai public hospitals) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 67,600 | Patient visits, not unique medical tourists |
| 2025 | 73,200 | May include foreign residents of China |
Understanding Treatment Costs
We do not publish national savings percentages or undated price ranges: comparable figures require a written hospital quote for your specific case.
Treatment costs depend on the hospital, diagnosis, treatment plan, and services included. Request an itemized hospital estimate and compare equivalent treatment packages, including tests, medicines, hospital stay, follow-up, travel, and accommodation.
Organ transplantation is subject to strict eligibility, allocation, and regulatory requirements and should not be presented as a routine medical-tourism service.
Sources: hospital international departments; Oklahoma Proton Center fee explainer, Jun 20, 2022
Advanced Therapies in China
China has become a global leader in several cutting-edge medical therapies, attracting international patients seeking treatments unavailable or prohibitively expensive elsewhere.
CAR-T Cell Therapy
- •NMPA-approved CAR-T therapies (non-exhaustive): axicabtagene ciloleucel (Yikaida), relmacabtagene autoleucel (Carteyva), equecabtagene autoleucel (Fucaso), ciltacabtagene autoleucel (Carvykti)
- •Eligibility depends on each product's approved indication
- •Costs vary by product, hospital, and case — request an itemized estimate before comparing
Proton & Heavy Ion Therapy
- •Shanghai Proton & Heavy Ion Center offers proton and carbon-ion therapy
- •The number of operational proton centers is not verified on this page — confirm directly with each facility
- •Treatment cost depends on the plan — request an itemized estimate
Cancer Treatment
- •Major tertiary hospitals run multi-disciplinary cancer programs (surgical, medical, and radiation oncology)
- •PD-1/PD-L1 immunotherapy options are approved and in clinical use in China
- •High case volumes at large cancer centers support sub-specialty expertise
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)
- •Integrative oncology combining TCM with Western medicine is uniquely available in China
- •Leading TCM hospitals: Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine
- •Growing international demand for TCM rehabilitation and chronic disease management
Hospital Quality & Accreditation
China's hospital grading system and international accreditations provide structured quality assurance for international patients.
Qualitative comparison only. Accreditation and visit counts by country are not verified on this page; each system's own registry is authoritative.
| Quality Metric | China | Thailand | India | South Korea |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| National Hospital Ranking System | Fudan (peer reputation + research) | HA (Thai Ministry of Public Health) | NABH | HIRA |
| Top Hospital Grade System | Grade 3A (三甲) | HA Accreditation | NABH/NABL | Tertiary Hospitals |
Fudan Ranking 2024: Highest-Tier (A++++) Hospitals
Source: Fudan University Hospital Management Research Institute comprehensive ranking — 2023 edition, released November 16, 2024. Selected hospitals from the highest A++++ tier (7 of 20); within a tier, hospitals are listed in no particular order.
| Hospital | City | Key Strengths |
|---|---|---|
| Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH) | Beijing | Rare diseases, internal medicine |
| West China Hospital, Sichuan University | Chengdu | Among the world's largest hospitals by scale; research |
| Chinese PLA General Hospital (301 Hospital) | Beijing | Oncology, cardiology |
| Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University | Shanghai | Endocrinology, hematology |
| Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University | Shanghai | Cardiology, hepatobiliary surgery |
| Huashan Hospital, Fudan University | Shanghai | Neurosurgery, dermatology, infectious diseases |
| Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College | Wuhan | Obstetrics & gynecology, rehabilitation |
Visa & Travel Data
Visa exemptions vary by country, passport type, purpose, and destination. Ordinary-passport rules may differ from diplomatic/service rules. Check the current policy for your specific itinerary.
| Nationality | Entry notes (verify before booking) |
|---|---|
| Canada | Ordinary passports: national 30-day visa-free entry from Feb 17, 2026 (policy currently through Dec 31, 2026) for eligible purposes — medical purpose still requires confirmation with the embassy |
| Brazil | On China's unilateral visa-free list; do not assume medical treatment is a covered purpose |
| United States | Not on the national unilateral list, but Hainan's regional policy and eligible transit exemptions have separate rules |
| South Africa | Current bilateral arrangements cover diplomatic and service passports, not ordinary passports; not on the current unilateral list |
Entry requirements depend on nationality, passport, destination, purpose, and length of stay. Do not assume a general tourism visa waiver covers a trip primarily for medical treatment. Confirm the correct entry route with the Chinese embassy or consulate before booking.
Hainan has a separate visa-free policy that expressly permits medical treatment for eligible ordinary-passport holders for up to 30 days, with travel restricted to Hainan. Check the current eligible-country list and entry conditions. (NIA, Aug 20, 2026)
An S2 private-affairs visa may be appropriate for medical treatment lasting up to 180 days. The responsible Chinese embassy or consulate determines the required category and supporting documents. Obtain the hospital's acceptance or invitation documents and confirm requirements before applying.
Visa fees and processing times vary by nationality, application location, entry type, and service level. Check the responsible consulate or visa centre's current schedule, including service charges, and allow time for online review and any additional checks.
Sources: MFA unilateral visa-free Q&A (current); MFA Canada/UK policy notice, Feb 15, 2026; MFA mutual-exemption table, Jul 13, 2026; NIA regional visa-free notice, Aug 20, 2026; Chinese Embassy in Pakistan, Apr 28, 2025; Embassy in Iran, Jun 12, 2025; Consulate-General in Chicago fee notice, Dec 30, 2025; Embassy in the US application guidance, Sep 2025
Frequently Asked Questions
How many international patients visit China for medical treatment?
China Economic Weekly reported 1.28 million international patient visits at key international-facing hospitals in 2025, with growth of 73.6% over three years, citing a National Health Commission report. The figure counts visits at the hospitals covered — not unique inbound medical tourists — and the underlying NHC report has not been independently verified.
How much cheaper is medical treatment in China compared to the US?
Verified like-for-like price comparisons are hard to come by: costs depend on the hospital, diagnosis, treatment plan, and services included. Request an itemized hospital estimate and compare equivalent treatment packages — including tests, medicines, hospital stay, follow-up, travel, and accommodation — rather than relying on headline savings percentages.
What is the size of China's medical tourism market?
Commercial estimates of China's medical-tourism market differ substantially in scope and methodology — 2025 estimates from different publishers vary by nearly an order of magnitude, and some include domestic patients or wellness services. Medora does not currently publish a verified national total for inbound medical-tourism revenue or a growth forecast.
Which are the top medical tourism treatments in China?
Treatments frequently sought by international patients include CAR-T cell therapy (NMPA-approved therapies include axicabtagene ciloleucel (Yikaida), relmacabtagene autoleucel (Carteyva), equecabtagene autoleucel (Fucaso), and ciltacabtagene autoleucel (Carvykti) — eligibility depends on each product's approved indication), proton and heavy-ion therapy, cancer surgery and immunotherapy, orthopedic and cardiac surgery, TCM integrative treatment, and comprehensive health check-ups.
How many JCI-accredited hospitals are in China?
A verified current total of JCI-accredited hospitals in mainland China has not been established. JCI evaluates hospitals and academic medical centers against the applicable accreditation standards — the 8th edition has applied since January 1, 2025 — generally on a three-year survey cycle. Check the JCI directory for an organization's exact accreditation program and current status.
What visa do I need for medical tourism in China?
Entry requirements depend on nationality, passport, destination, purpose, and length of stay — do not assume a general tourism visa waiver covers a trip primarily for medical treatment. Hainan has a separate visa-free policy that expressly permits medical treatment for eligible ordinary-passport holders (up to 30 days, within Hainan only). For longer treatment, an S2 private-affairs visa (medical stays up to 180 days) may apply; the responsible Chinese embassy or consulate determines the category and required documents. Visa fees and processing times vary by nationality and application location.
Data Sources & Citations
- National Health Commission of China — 2025 Statistical Bulletin (published Aug 28, 2026): hospital and Grade III-A counts
- China Economic Weekly — May 18, 2026: 1.28M international patient visits at key international-facing hospitals (media report citing an NHC report; not independently verified)
- National Immigration Administration — Jan 30, 2026: 2025 visa-free arrivals; Aug 20, 2026: Hainan regional visa-free policy
- Shanghai Municipal Government — Feb 27, 2026 republication of municipal health data: foreign-passport holder visits
- Fudan University Hospital Management Research Institute — 2023 edition comprehensive ranking, released Nov 16, 2024
- Joint Commission International — 8th edition standards release note (Jul 1, 2024); accredited-organizations directory
- National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) — CAR-T approvals (Fucaso, Jun 30, 2023; Carvykti, Feb 19, 2025); manufacturer product disclosures (Jun 2025)
- China Ministry of Foreign Affairs — unilateral visa-free Q&A (current); policy notices (Feb 15, 2026; Jul 13, 2026)
Patient counts, patient visits, arrivals, and medical tourists are distinct measures and are not mixed on this page. Historical accreditation, commercial estimates, and forecasts are not presented as current official facts. Confirm any figure with its cited source before making medical travel decisions.
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