Staff members from the customs inspect imported medicines and medical instruments at Boao Public Pharmaceutical Bonded Warehouse.

The total value of medicines and medical instruments that have been put in storage at Boao Public Pharmaceutical Bonded Warehouse in Boao Lecheng International Medical Tourism Pilot Zone reached 171 million yuan ($27 million) in 2020, an increase of nearly six times year-on-year.

The figure stood at just 9.7 million yuan from February 2019 to August 2019, before the establishment of the Hainan Boao Lecheng International Medical Tourism Pilot Zone Administration, which has since released a series of preferential policies and regulations which have caused a surge in the usage of imported medicines and medical instruments. 

The local customs office has also made changes to its supervision model to facilitate the clearance procedures of import licensed medicines and medical instruments.

The Hainan Provincial Health Commission and the Hainan Drug Administration have been devoting continuous efforts to simplifying approval procedures, cutting down the time required for the examination and approval of urgently needed medicines and medical instruments from 27 working days to no more than three working days. 

Currently, the value of medicines and medical instruments being taken out of storage at the bonded warehouse can reach 20 million yuan every month on average, as more and more patients are being attracted to Lecheng for better medical service.

"With the help of the bonded warehouse, these licensed medicines and medical instruments can be used whenever patients need, saving time for patients in terms of waiting for treatment," said Xing Fei, the person in charge of the bonded warehouse.