Hainan's Digital Therapeutics Enters Harvest Phase: 73 Companies and Dozens of Products in Clinical Use

Hainan, the Innovation Island for Digital Therapeutics, Is Accelerating Its Takeoff.

Since the issuance of the first full-lifecycle support policy for the digital therapeutics industry in 2022, Hainan has continuously promoted innovation leadership and practical implementation in this sector through policy incentives and the cultivation of a favorable industrial ecosystem. Over the past three years, Hainan has gradually emerged as a highland for digital therapeutics innovation, attracting numerous domestic digital therapeutics companies to establish their presence in the region. Digital therapeutics applications have moved from concept to reality, entering clinical hospital settings and reaching the general public.

Over these three years, how has Hainan progressively accelerated its innovation momentum? What are the current outcomes in terms of industrial development and practical implementation? Leveraging the opportunity presented by the 2025 Digital Therapeutics Conference, VCBeat seeks to elucidate how Hainan has emerged as an innovation hub for digital therapeutics.

The early development of the digital therapeutics industry faced numerous uncertainties, and timely policy support created highly favorable conditions for its growth.

Since 2022, Hainan Province has issued more than 30 policies supporting the development of the digital therapeutics industry. These initiatives have not only laid a solid foundation for the growth of digital therapeutics in Hainan but also further propelled the province into a hotspot for digital therapeutics innovation.

Notably, the first full-lifecycle support policy for the digital therapeutics industry, issued by Hainan Province in October 2022, has fundamentally established the primary direction for future innovation, development, and application of digital therapeutics in the province. It provides comprehensive support across six key areas: establishing a nationally leading clinical research and demonstration base for digital therapeutics; accelerating the registration and approval of digital therapeutics products; actively promoting the application of these products; encouraging exploration of diverse payment models; strengthening publicity and industrial cluster development; and standardizing development alongside other safeguard measures.

From 2022 to 2025, Hainan Province’s policies supporting the development of digital therapeutics have evolved in tandem with the industry’s growth, shifting their focus through several stages: from initial planning and policy foundation-building to fill regulatory gaps (e.g., *Several Measures for Accelerating the Development of the Digital Therapeutics Industry in Hainan Province*); to implementation and scenario expansion (e.g., *Implementation Plan for the Pilot Project on Digital Therapeutics for Cognitive Rehabilitation in the Elderly in Hainan Province*, *Implementation Plan for Digital Therapeutics Intervention Projects for Children Aged 0–6 with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Hainan Province*, and *Notice on the Comprehensive Promotion of Diabetes Digital Therapeutics Projects*); then to deepened development and industrial upgrading (e.g., *Three-Year Action Plan for High-Quality Development of Hainan’s Digital Health System and Digital Health Economy (2024–2026)*); and finally to the current stage of comprehensive advancement and ecosystem building (e.g., *Notice on Further Advancing the Construction of Digital Therapeutics Diagnosis and Treatment Centers in Our Province*).

The rapid implementation of policies related to digital therapeutics in Hainan Province and the resulting support for enterprises are closely linked to the strong interdepartmental collaboration across various sectors of the Hainan provincial government—

For the digital therapeutics industry, one of the core issues is product reimbursement.In May this year, the Hainan Provincial Healthcare Security Administration, in conjunction with the Provincial Health Commission, issued a special policy on the pricing management of digital therapeutics, titled the Notice on Doing a Good Job in the Pricing Management of Digital Therapeutics. This initiative establishes a comprehensive “standardized pricing–precise billing–dynamic supervision” framework. By clarifying three core billing scenarios, promoting technological transformation in medical institutions, and strengthening full-process regulatory safeguards, the policy removes reimbursement barriers to the clinical application of digital therapeutics. Furthermore, it leverages healthcare insurance policies as a catalyst to drive the transition of medical services from “labor-dependent” to “technology-driven.”

For digital therapeutics companies, the second core issue is product registration and approval.In implementing the decision-making arrangements of the Provincial Party Committee and the Provincial Government on developing new quality productive forces, the Hainan Provincial Medical Products Administration issued the Priority Review and Approval Procedures for Class II Medical Devices in 2022, incorporating digital therapeutics products into the scope of priority review and approval. In 2025, the General Office of the People’s Government of Hainan Province issued the Notice on Several Policy Measures to Further Support the High-Quality Development of the Biopharmaceutical Industry in Hainan Province, further streamlining the priority review and approval channels. To date, the Hainan Provincial Medical Products Administration has cumulatively approved 10 digital therapeutics products regulated as Class II medical devices for market launch, ranking among the highest in China. The average review and approval time is 29 working days, representing a 79% reduction compared to the statutory timeframe, which has significantly improved registration efficiency. Through efficient approval processes and precise services, it is accelerating the development of the emerging digital therapeutics industry.

For digital therapeutics companies, the third core issue is R&D investment.The Hainan Provincial Department of Science and Technology, in collaboration with the Hainan Provincial Health Commission, has joined forces to drive industrial development. Since 2022, the Hainan Provincial Department of Science and Technology has focused on technological innovation, approving nearly 150 R&D projects on key digital health technologies and allocating over RMB 40 million in fiscal science and technology funding. Among these, approximately 30 projects were dedicated to special research on digital therapeutics, receiving more than RMB 4 million in support. This targeted scientific research has empowered the R&D of digital therapeutic technologies and facilitated their clinical application, achieving significant clinical outcomes in areas such as neonatal health protection, pediatric health management, and comprehensive cancer care. These efforts have provided solid support for the construction of Hainan as an Innovation Island for Digital Therapeutics.

For digital therapeutics companies, the fourth core issue is talent.The Talent Development Bureau of the Provincial Party Committee adheres to the concept of synergistic development between talent initiatives and key industrial projects. Leveraging Hainan’s advantages as a hub for conventions and exhibitions, the Bureau proactively coordinates with key provincial industries, investment promotion and industrial departments, national and provincial sci-tech innovation platforms, thematic events, and major conferences. By taking a proactive approach, it has launched the “Talent Co-Flight” recruitment campaign, centered on the construction of Hainan Province’s “4532” modern industrial system. At the Digital Therapeutics Conference, the Talent Development Bureau of the Provincial Party Committee set up an information booth for talent policy consultations, displaying clear and concise guides on various provincial talent policies. These materials cover multiple groups, including high-level talents, university graduates, professional and technical personnel, and highly skilled workers. Hainan Province has established the “Talents from All Quarters” Aggregation Plan, which targets leading talents, team-based talents, flexible-engagement talents, and international talents, providing them with relevant subsidies and service guarantees. Currently, the Talent Development Bureau of the Hainan Provincial Party Committee is implementing a liaison officer system for high-level talent services. It has formed a team of 644 liaison officers and established a three-tiered enterprise talent service framework at the provincial, municipal/county, and key industrial park levels, comprising “Chief Enterprise Service Commissioners + Coordinators + Liaison Officers.” This initiative aims to provide efficient, convenient, and considerate services to talents.

With policy support and inter-departmental collaboration, Hainan Province has further enhanced its appeal to innovative digital therapeutics companies.

As of July 2025, the number of digital therapeutics companies established in Hainan has reached 73.

Among them, many leading domestic enterprises in niche sectors have chosen to establish a presence in Hainan. For instance, ALSOLIFE, a company specializing in pediatric mental disorders; Hejia Jiannao, a provider of comprehensive diagnostic and therapeutic solutions for dementia; Shuyao Intelligence, active in the field of pediatric mental disorders; Yiduoyun, a digital therapeutics company focused on chronic diseases; Airdoc, an enterprise dedicated to eye disease management; and Xuzhishi, a dementia rehabilitation company, have all set up subsidiaries in Hainan.

Currently, the 73 innovative digital therapeutics companies are primarily distributed across the Hainan Eco-Software Park and the Haikou National High-Tech Industrial Development Zone. Notably, the Hainan Eco-Software Park hosts nearly half of these innovative digital therapeutics enterprises. To better promote the value conversion and circulation of healthcare data elements as assets, the Hainan Eco-Software Park initiated the establishment of Yunhailian, a service platform enterprise dedicated to the capitalization of healthcare data elements. To further guide the standardized development of the industry, it jointly established the Hainan Digital Medical Health Association with leading domestic digital health companies, including AliHealth, Ping An Good Doctor, Gaoji Health, and Fosun Pharma. At present, the Hainan Eco-Software Park is becoming the cornerstone of Hainan’s digital therapeutics industrial ecosystem. By aggregating high-quality enterprises, facilitating clinical application, and supporting product certification and global market entry, it has constructed a complete chain from industrial clustering to commercialization of outcomes. As one of the core engines driving the development of Hainan’s digital therapeutics industry, it provides solid infrastructural support for Hainan’s ambition to build a “World Island of Digital Therapeutics Innovation.”

The business scopes of 73 companies basically cover the most common disease types currently, among which 10 digital therapeutics products have been approved. More than 30 products are being applied or trialed.

From the perspective of business implementation, these companies cover multiple disease areas, including chronic disease management, mental health and cognition, ophthalmology, oncology, and rehabilitation. Among these, a greater number of companies focus their businesses on fields with substantial population-level demand, such as chronic disease management and mental health and cognition.



Currently, a total of 10 digital therapeutics products from relevant companies have been approved for market launch. During the approval process for digital therapeutics products, the Hainan Provincial Medical Products Administration conducted 65 specialized guidance sessions for 43 companies, facilitating 12 companies in completing registration applications for 14 products, with one product entering clinical trials. This indicates that more digital therapeutics products are on the horizon.

Digital therapeutics are breaking through geographical barriers, enabling clinicians to provide more convenient professional services to residents in remote primary care areas, thereby enhancing service accessibility and equity. Meanwhile, they further assist physicians in delivering precise diagnosis and treatment, improving healthcare quality, reducing costs, and promoting the sustainable development of the health sector.

As digital therapeutics products in Hainan Province enter clinical practice and move toward market launch, they also enable application scenarios encompassing home, community, and hospital settings.

From a home-based care perspective, multiple digital therapeutic intervention products are currently being applied.Taking digital therapeutics products for cognitive rehabilitation in the elderly as an example, Hainan Province is currently conducting province-wide cognitive function screening and providing digital therapeutic interventions for cognitive rehabilitation to elderly individuals whose screening results indicate cognitive decline or impairment and who express a willingness to receive diagnosis and treatment. Another example is digital therapeutics products for the rehabilitative management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In March 2022, Hainan officially launched the “Early Screening and Comprehensive Intervention Project for High-Risk Populations with COPD,” actively exploring the application of home-based digital therapeutics for COPD rehabilitation to achieve remote management of patients’ home recovery.

From the perspective of community-based care, Hainan Province has fully implemented the “2+3” Health Service Package across the entire province since 2023, carrying out effective management, prevention, and intervention for five conditions: hypertension, diabetes, tuberculosis, hepatitis, and severe mental disorders.Taking diabetes as an example, in 2024, Hainan Province organized a national expert panel to evaluate and validate the pilot outcomes of digital therapeutics for diabetes. The experts affirmed the effectiveness of these pilot initiatives. Based on the expert assessment results, Hainan is currently rolling out the diabetes digital therapeutics program province-wide.In May 2025, the Hainan Provincial Health Commission organized the release of the first batch of six specialized service packages for specific conditions and rehabilitation.Among these initiatives, “Sleep Well in Hainan” is a wellness service package developed by Sanya Central Hospital. Targeting three common and prevalent sleep disorders, it integrates Hainan’s climatic and natural environment, modern medical technologies, and digital therapeutics. This service package can be utilized either within healthcare institutions or under the guidance of experts at wellness and care facilities. The application of digital therapeutics is further extending into the “wellness and care” sector.

From the hospital perspective, major hospitals in Hainan Province are accelerating the adoption of digital therapeutics.Multiple digital therapeutics products, including orthopedic rehabilitation interventions, pain management, neonatal jaundice interventions, psychiatric and cognitive rehabilitation interventions, myopia prevention and control interventions, sleep disorder interventions, speech rehabilitation, and diabetes management, are currently being used in clinical settings. Such asHainan Provincial People's HospitalSeven digital therapeutics products have been deployed, three specialty service platforms have been established, and over 160,000 patient consultations have been conducted. The products cover oncology, orthopedics, chronic disease management, and sleep-related disorders, demonstrating significant efficacy. For instance, the R0 resection rate for patients with advanced ovarian cancer reached 80%, the rehabilitation compliance rate for orthopedic patients peaked at 93%, patient satisfaction exceeded 90%, and annual medical expenditures were halved for some patients.Hainan Province Anning HospitalIn clinical practice, a total of 10 digital therapeutic devices across four categories have been deployed, including cognitive function rehabilitation systems, devices for treating cognitive impairments, the portable version of VR-based cognitive rehabilitation systems, and extended reality exposure therapy systems. These devices cover diverse scenarios such as cognitive rehabilitation and psychotherapy. To date, these four categories of devices have collectively provided treatment to over 9,500 patient visits.The Second Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, in collaboration with seven organizations including Bosteng, Jizhi, and Wanren, applied seven digital therapeutics products, with four specialty platforms receiving over 1,700 patients;Hainan Women and Children's Medical Center, in clinical practice, the two specialized service platforms received 6,600 patients. Cost control was favorable, and patient satisfaction reached 91.94%.

Behind the accelerated innovative applications by digital therapeutics companies lies the comprehensive support provided by Hainan Province, spanning from clinical research to application translation—

From the perspective of clinical research, Hainan Province has accelerated the construction of 20 digital therapeutics clinical trial centers.Furthermore, a batch of research topics on digital therapeutics, along with clinical studies and evaluation projects, are being actively carried out;From the perspective of application and translation, Hainan Province has been gradually incorporating digital therapeutics into routine disease diagnosis and treatment pathways by selecting qualified medical institutions to serve as Hainan Digital Therapeutics Diagnosis and Treatment Centers., while enhancing the capacity of medical institutions to deliver healthcare services and strengthening the disease management capabilities of patients and their families, encourage medical institutions to promote digital therapeutics within their facilities, thereby improving patient and public awareness and proficiency in using digital therapeutics. In May 2024, the Hainan Provincial Health Commission issued the “Notice on Launching the Application and Review Process for Digital Therapeutics Diagnosis and Treatment Centers in Hainan Province.” AndTo date, a total of seven digital therapeutics diagnosis and treatment center projects have been reviewed and certified.Its existence has further promoted the deep integration of digital therapeutics with clinical diagnosis and treatment, enabling the rapid rollout of digital therapeutics across the entire province.

Thanks to the establishment of a comprehensive mechanism spanning from research and development to application, 73 companies have forged in-depth collaborative partnerships with numerous hospitals across the province, thereby benefiting a broad patient population. The digital therapeutics industry ecosystem in Hainan is also demonstrating further signs of robust growth and vitality.

Hainan, as an innovation hub for digital therapeutics, is taking off. This ascent relies on a closed-loop ecosystem for the development of digital therapeutics—

From a policy perspective, Hainan Province’s institutional innovations have laid a solid foundation for the industry, creating a “fertile ground” to guide its development and providing robust support for the implementation and growth of digital therapeutics;
From an industrial perspective, Hainan is radiating vibrant energy through enterprise clustering and collaborative innovation, presenting a “grand spectacle” of diverse symbiosis, where various market entities jointly promote industrial iteration and upgrading;
From a clinical application perspective, Hainan Province has focused on delivering tangible benefits to users, providing comprehensive services that improve public welfare and further highlighting the core value of digital therapeutics.

Currently, the Hainan Free Trade Port is on the verge of “customs closure.”Following the implementation of island-wide customs closure operations, the Hainan Free Trade Port will implement more preferential “zero-tariff” policies, more liberalized trade management measures, more convenient passage facilitation measures, and a more efficient and precise regulatory model. Hainan will establish a “4532 Modern Industrial System” that features distinct Hainan characteristics and advantages.In the digital health industry, Hainan will continue to improve its digital infrastructure, facilitating the flow of data elements in fields such as healthcare and providing strong support for the development of digital therapeutics. Additionally, by enhancing the service capabilities of national regional medical centers and promoting “medical” consumption, Hainan will leverage the world-class medical resources gathered in the Boao Lecheng International Medical Tourism Pilot Zone to provide diverse application scenarios for digital therapeutics.

Given Hainan’s global perspective and long-term planning, it is further propelling digital therapeutics onto a broader stage. In the future, we may well see more digital therapeutics innovators from China, and specifically from Hainan, making their mark on the global stage.