Desperation, money drive Chinese patients abroad

 20-Nov-15, Global Post 

Among the excited shopaholics and selfie-takers among China's outbound travelers is another group - more serious and usually carrying their medical records.

Image: MetroCebu News

They are going for medical treatment abroad and many are traveling for a last chance at life. 

"Traveling abroad, studying overseas and even immigration are now common for Chinese, but when it comes to seeking medical treatment abroad, they are not convinced. Healthcare is very technical for ordinary people, and even wealthy patients are unaware of the option of seeking treatment abroad," says Cai Qiang, CEO of Saint Lucia Consulting, which facilitates outbound medical tourism from China.

With the globalization of healthcare and growing numbers of Chinese celebrities such as Olympic athlete Liu Xiang seeking treatment abroad, more Chinese are realizing that they can also seek world-class medical care. 

According to China's National Cancer Prevention and Research Center, the five-year survival rate of Chinese patients is around 30 percent, half that of cancer patients in the United States. Besides lower standards of care, patients' complaints about Chinese hospitals include long waiting times, lengthy diagnoses and impatient doctors. The advanced medical technologies and friendlier medical services in developed countries appeal to the Chinese.

 Read the full article 

 Insights