The Hainan General Hospital unveils a branch at the Boao Lecheng International Medical Tourism Pilot Zone on Aug 18.

The Hainan General Hospital unveiled a branch at the Boao Lecheng International Medical Tourism Pilot Zone, South China's Hainan province, on Aug 18. The hospital, established by Hainan General Hospital and the Medicell International Medical Center, opened for preliminary operation the same day. 

The move follows the requirements that the Boao Lecheng pilot zone should encourage public hospitals to establish chartered hospitals to enhance their capacity and provide first-aid services for Lecheng.

Statistics show that at least 500,000 Chinese patients choose to seek medical treatment abroad every year, and the medical expenses are huge. In addition, many patients are not able to be timely and effectively cured in Chinese medical facilities due to limited technology levels.

Zhao Jiannong, Secretary of the Party Committee of Hainan General Hospital, said as the Boao Research Hospital has now opened for preliminary operations and the clinical real data application pilot advances in Hainan province, the needs of patients for medication and equipment will gradually be met.

According to planning the Boao Research Hospital and the Lecheng Branch of Hainan General Hospital are expected to have three important functions.

As public hospitals, they will provide public service for emergency and critical illness needs in the pilot zone, carry out advanced trials of innovative drugs, technologies, and medical devices, and conduct clinical application of licensed medical devices and data research.

The Boao Research Hospital is allowed to use innovative drugs, technologies, and medical devices that are not listed in China, carry out clinical research work, accumulate clinical data, and help accelerate domestic registration and application of innovative drugs, technologies, and medical devices.

The Boao Research Hospital and the Lecheng branch of Hainan General Hospital will serve as a national real-world clinical data research center, helping to reform the national drug and medical device review and approval system as well as accelerate the innovation of major systems and mechanisms in the pilot zone.

Following initial operations the Boao Research Hospital and the Lecheng branch of the Hainan General Hospital will continue to explore clinical application of licensed medical devices and work on real data research in a bid to provide stable public service support in the pilot zone, said Jiang Hongyan, President of Hainan General Hospital.