The plaque unveiling of the Boao Winhealth Rare Disease Medical Center is held in the Boao Lecheng International Medical Tourism Pilot Zone, Hainan province on Nov 14. [Photo/chinanews.com]

The plaque unveiling of the Boao Winhealth Rare Diseases Medical Center was held on Nov 14 in the Boao Lecheng International Medical Tourism Pilot Zone, Hainan province.

The center was jointly built by partners including the Boao Lecheng International Medical Tourism Pilot Zone Administration Bureau and Winhealth Pharma Group. Officials said it will devote its efforts to identifying overseas medicines for the treatment of rare diseases and introducing them to the market in China.

The center will feature advanced medical equipment and medical techniques for rare diseases, as well as teams of experts from both home and abroad, to provide high-end diagnosis and treatment services for patients.

It will also work with domestic and overseas parties -- such as manufactures, commercial insurance companies, charity organizations and non-profit foundations -- to make more innovations in payments and patient assistance.

In addition, it will undertake global research projects as well as phase II and III clinical trials. This will be done while it takes an active role in the organization and participation of professional rare disease academic events and patient activities in China -- to increase people's awareness of rare diseases and the levels of diagnosis and treatment services.

Liu Zhefeng, deputy director of the Boao Lecheng International Medical Tourism Pilot Zone Administration Bureau, said that the establishment of the center would encourage more international pharmaceutical companies to bring innovative medicines and equipment for rare diseases to China.

This would enable more patients enjoy the most advanced diagnosis and treatment therapies in Boao, Liu added.