What you need to know

The Boao Lecheng International Medical Tourism Pilot Zone, in Qionghai on Hainan, was set up by a national plan. This guide uses the official interpretation published on gov.cn on 17 September 2019 and says only what that page says. It is dated, so use it as background and confirm the current rules with the hospital.

What the zone is for

The plan lets qualifying medical institutions in the zone use urgently needed imported drugs and devices in small quantities. A tracking platform for special-licence drugs and devices is being built.

Taking drugs out of the zone

Patients may take a reasonable personal supply of imported drugs out of the zone to use elsewhere, on the basis of a commitment the patient files. The interpretation does not state the filing steps, the length of supply or which drugs.

Foreign patients

The plan asks for easier entry, stay and residence for foreign medical staff, patients and accompanying persons who come to the zone for treatment. The interpretation gives no visa category, document list or fee. Ask the hospital in the zone which visa or residence permit it can support and what it will give you to apply.

What to confirm yourself

  • whether the hospital is licensed to use the drug or device you need
  • what visa or residence permit you need, and which document the hospital issues for it
  • how filing for taking drugs out of the zone works
  • costs and insurance, which this source does not cover

The source is listed below with the date it was opened.

Practical facts

Steps

  1. Treat this guide as background. It does not give a step-by-step route for a foreign patient, because the official source states policy aims and not a process.[1]
  2. The national plan asks for easier entry and stay for foreign medical staff, patients and accompanying persons who come to the zone for treatment. Ask your hospital in the zone which visa or residence permit it can support.[1]
  3. The zone lets qualifying medical institutions use small quantities of urgently needed imported drugs and devices. Ask the hospital what is allowed for your treatment.[1]
  4. If you want to take imported drugs out of the zone, you need to file a commitment first, and only a reasonable personal supply is allowed.[1]
  5. The plan also builds a tracking platform for special-licence drugs and devices. Ask the hospital how it records your treatment.[1]

Official sources

  1. National Development and Reform Commission and three other national bodies: 合力打造国际一流医疗旅游区 (published 2019-09-17) (www.gov.cn/zhengce/2019-09/17/content_5430392.htm) · accessed 10/21/2026