(Yicai) April 1 -- Lingang Special Area, a key testing ground for economic and trade policies within the Shanghai Free Trade Zone, plans to establish itself as a leading cross-border center for innovative healthcare services, according to a new policy document.

The plan is that by the end of this decade, Lingang will have developed an integrated international medical services system with improved cross-border resource flow, paving the way for new services such as international medical and wellness tourism.

By 2030, Lingang will have three types of top-tier medical resources: advanced medical services for complex surgery and rare diseases; consumer healthcare services for cosmetic treatments and premium health check-ups; and cutting-edge medical services in areas such as gene and cell therapy, per the policy document released yesterday by the area’s management committee.

Lingang has many advantages, including its geographic position and policies, that make it ideal for launching trans-border healthcare services, said Ji Xiaohong, the committee’s director of social affairs development.

"Foreign individuals can reach the core area of Lingang within 30 minutes from Shanghai Pudong International Airport, which greatly facilitates the area's ability to meet cross-border medical demand from Asia and all around the world," Ji said.

She noted that overseas patients and clients invited to the area by accredited institutions can complete their entry visa applications entirely online without submitting any physical documents.

Lingang also opened a cross-border medical services center and a drug and medical device import-export service center yesterday at an inauguration ceremony held by the local government.

The former will connect overseas patients with medical institutions in Lingang and the rest of Shanghai, providing a full range of services from overseas promotions to medical guidance and patient accompaniment.

The other center, located in the Yangshan Special Comprehensive Bonded Zone, will help pharmaceutical and medical device companies overcome operational bottlenecks and other challenges and quickly turn innovative research into real products and applications.

Lingang's management committee will form a special task force to coordinate and oversee various efforts related to cross-border medical innovation services, ensuring timely resolution of any issues that arise during the implementation process.  

Shanghai expanded its pilot program for international medical tourism to 13 high-level local public hospitals in 2023.

The Lingang campus of Shanghai Pudong Hospital, affiliated with Fudan University, will offer cross-border medical services in specialized areas, such as cancer diagnosis and treatment as well as assisted reproduction, once it is completed by the end of the year, Li Jiyu, its director, told Yicai.

Editors: Tang Shihua, Futura Costaglione