Foreign medical professionals can now open clinics in Hainan province and 19 cities in China, including Shanghai, as part of China's ongoing efforts to expand access to its service sector.

The new policy was outlined in a pilot plan that deepens reforms across key service industries, including finance, telecommunications, healthcare, culture and tourism to unlock the potential of service trade and attract more global capital.

The plan expands the number of pilot areas from 11 to 20, with the addition of Dalian, Ningbo, Xiamen, Qingdao, Shenzhen, Hefei, Fuzhou, Xi'an, and Suzhou.

The original list comprises Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, Chongqing, Shenyang, Nanjing, Hangzhou, Wuhan, Guangzhou, Chengdu and Hainan province.

Under the updated policy, qualified foreign doctors are now permitted to establish clinics in the expanded pilot zones. In addition, foreign physicians, nurses, and pharmacists can apply for short-term practice through streamlined application procedures.

The plan, issued by the Ministry of Commerce on April 18, also encourages the establishment of foreign-funded nursing schools to help cultivate local medical talent.

China has already made notable progress in this field, with more than 150 joint-venture or wholly foreign-funded medical institutions operating nationwide, and over 1,500 foreign medical professionals engaged in short-term practice across the country.

Source: chinanews.cn