Renowned medical expert submits proposal on opening-up of medical services

Wang Jian'an, a member of the CPPCC National Committee, said that he had submitted a proposal during this year's two sessions in which he gave the specific advice on how to promote the opening-up of the country's medical services.

"A country's comprehensive national strength and competitiveness in the world can be reflected in its capability to provide high-quality medical services," said Wang, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and a renowned cardiovascular expert from the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine.

According to Wang, it is urgent and important to expand the country's medical services to cover more foreigners, both in and out of the country, but he admitted it is not something that can be done overnight.

Wang said he suggested pilot programs to be carried out for patients in some countries such as the Southeast Asian nations before making China's medical services accessible to people in all countries.

"Of course, the expansion of medical services to overseas patients must be made on the premise that the needs of domestic patients are fully secured," he said.

According to Wang, public hospitals that can provide high-quality services and are good at communications, could take the pilot role in conducting mature and operational surgeries for overseas patients with non-emergency diseases such as cataract.

Wang said an important factor regarding the expansion of medical services to foreigners is whether China's medical institutions are recognized internationally.

"Therefore, I have suggested relevant authorities to encourage domestic medical institutions to obtain international accreditation while making the evaluation criteria for domestic medical institutions to better meet the global standards," he said.

As China promotes high-level opening-up and is rolling out a series of policies to develop high-quality medical services, Wang said it is high time that the country takes step-by-step efforts to expand its medical services accessible to overseas patients.