Chinese health zone boosts its supply of international medicines
Hainan medical hub has been seeing increasing numbers of health visitors
Lecheng International Medical Tourism Zone in the east of China ’ s Hainan Island intends to increase its supply of foreign pharmaceuticals , according to local media . The zone has concluded agreements on regular supplies of medicines with more than 40 foreign drug manufacturers . Officials also specified that work continues on forming an effective health insurance system . Since last August , more than 360,000 people have joined the programme .
“ We have signed a cooperation agreement with the Beijing Health Insurance Administration ... and special pharmaceuticals will now be available outside Hainan ,” Gu Gang , head of Lecheng ‘ s administration , told the press . He added that Hainan ’ s free trade port was becoming increasingly attractive to consumers thanks to the medical tourism zone .
Lecheng ’ s foreign partners include Swiss pharmaceutical corporation Novartis , which plans to increase its supply of drugs to the province , most of which are not yet on the Chinese market .
In February 2013 , the Chinese State Council approved an initiative to establish an advanced health cluster in eastern Hainan . Lecheng is a short car journey from the annual Boao Forum for Asia and is considered the region ’ s medical hub .
In 2019 , the special zone received about 75,000 tourists , with total income from its main activities of hospitals , sanatoriums , and other institutions exceeding 640 million yuan ( US $ 99 million ), an increase of 75 percent on the year .
Thailand and UAE allow medical tourists
Successful vaccination programmes have prompted more open borders
More health tourism hubs are opening up in line with rising global vaccination rates .
Bangkok plans to follow Phuket in enabling the entry of vaccinated medical tourists in October . However , these will not include visitors from Australia for the foreseeable future due to outbound and returning quarantine rules .
The plan is to allow fully vaccinated travellers to enter Thailand quarantine-free , which is already the case in Phuket . Fully vaccinated travellers from 70 countries have been able to travel to the island quarantine-free since July 1 , subject to strict conditions .
For 2022 , the government is also looking to implement travel bubbles between border provinces and its four neighbouring countries of Cambodia , Myanmar , Laos , and Malaysia . The partner country will have to have a vaccination rate of 70 percent and receive mutual approval from local administrations and local health authorities before reopening . Many medical tourists are from these countries .
Elsewhere , the UAE is now welcoming fully vaccinated tourists and medical tourists from all nations , including countries previously banned .
Also , UAE residents and citizens can now travel abroad for medical treatment , although those over 70 or people suffering with chronic diseases are still advised not to travel , except if they ’ re travelling to receive urgent medical treatment abroad .
Inbound travellers and returning residents must have a negative PCR test at the airport .
Unvaccinated visitors from green list countries will also be allowed in with no quarantine measures but will be required to show a negative PCR test taken a maximum of 48 hours before departure and take another PCR test on arrival .
GlobalHealthAsiaPacific . com OCTOBER 2021
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