In the first two months of this year, the zone reported 34,651 visitors – a year-on-year rise of 37.2 per cent, compared with January and February 2022, according to a report by China Daily.

China has seen an increase in visitors to the country since it reopened its borders in March 2023 after the pandemic. This general surge may be reflected in the special medical zone’s rise in patients.

Reflecting the overall rise in patients within the zone, the number of patients licensed to use medical devices and drugs has also risen to 1,546 – up 58.4 per cent on the same period in 2022.

The zone has a number of preferential policies, including the ability to use medical devices and medicines that are not yet licensed overseas, nor in the rest of China. Companies wishing to use this license must first obtain a license to use equipment or drugs that fall within this category.

The pilot zone has set up an independent regulatory regime for devices and drugs that manages approval, customs clearance, use and supervision.

The special medical zone, established in 2013, is intended to provide a venue for high quality medical tourism services to domestic and international patients. It currently hosts around 25 medical institutions, including the Ruijin-Hainan Hospital, as well as companies such as private integrated medical group Raffles, and South Korea’s JK Plastic Surgery.