Chronic Disease Drives Medical Tourism Boom: CIMING (Boao) International Hospital Launches Full Lifecycle Health Management in Hainan

In the health industry, medical and health tourism is an important branch. As an organic integration of tourism with rehabilitation, fitness, wellness, and other services, its systemic impact exceeds the revenue effects of the traditional tourism and medical industries.

A research report released by a U.S. Stanford-affiliated research institution stated that global medical tourism revenue would reach $678.5 billion in 2017. Medical and health tourism promotes people’s physical and mental well-being by addressing the physical, psychological, and spiritual dimensions of health. Promoting the integrated development of the tourism and healthcare industries is of great significance to building a Healthy China and achieving the strategic goal of a moderately prosperous society in all respects.

At the national level, health and medical tourism, driven by multi-sector development trends, has garnered significant attention. In May this year, five departments, including the National Health and Family Planning Commission and the China National Tourism Administration, issued the “Guiding Opinions on Promoting the Development of Health Tourism,” emphasizing the need to actively foster the deep integration of medical services with tourism. Among various regions, Hainan, a renowned tourist destination, has become a preferred location for the implementation of medical projects, thanks to its favorable urban environment and natural scenery.

November 10–12, 2017 — The 2017 First Hainan International Health Industry Expo (hereinafter referred to as the “Health Expo”), jointly organized by the Hainan Provincial Department of Commerce, the Hainan Provincial Health and Family Planning Commission, Hainan Radio and Television Station, and Health News, was held in Haikou. This event marked the highest-level and largest-scale gathering of the health industry ever hosted in Hainan, serving as an international exchange platform in the health sector. The Health Expo demonstrated a concrete commitment to advancing the Healthy China 2030 initiative, actively embracing the spirit of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, and further innovating health industry models to address the people’s growing demand for a better life, particularly their health-related needs.

On November 10, at the Ciming Media Luncheon held in the Boao Lecheng International Medical Tourism Pilot Zone, Lu Zhiyuan, Secretary-General of the Hainan Provincial People’s Government, delivered important remarks. He expressed high expectations for the development of international medical tourism in Hainan and hoped that, through media outreach, the general public would gain a better understanding of medical tourism and enjoy enhanced health services.

From right to left: Lu Zhiyuan, Secretary-General of the Hainan Provincial People's Government; Wu Ming, Deputy Director of the Hainan Provincial Health and Family Planning Commission; Hu Bo, Party Secretary of Ciming Health Checkup Management Group; and Deng Haihua, Vice Mayor of Haikou Municipal People's Government, at the meeting.

Since its establishment in 2002, Ciming has undergone a developmental trajectory of growth, prosperity, and strengthening over the past 15 years. The “Ciming Model of Health Checkups in China,” pioneered by Ciming Health Checkup, has addressed the mismatch between public health needs and healthcare services. Approximately 350 million people undergo health checkups annually, deriving significant benefits from them.

Han Xiaohong, founder of Ciming Health Checkup, and Hu Bo, Chairman of the Board, are fully committed to building the “Ciming Dr. Han International Medical Service Innovation Platform.” Building upon the well-established “Ciming Health Checkup Model,” they have launched the development of an industrial chain and ecosystem for full-lifecycle health and medical management.

The offerings range from pre-conception assisted reproductive technologies, such as in vitro fertilization (IVF), to chronic disease management and anti-aging programs. Notably, the “Ciming (Boao) International Hospital” was established within the Hainan Boao Lecheng International Medical Tourism Pilot Zone, approved by the State Council, to support the development of Hainan’s broader health industry. This hospital enables the Ciming Meinian Group to evolve from providing standalone health check-ups to delivering comprehensive, ecosystem-based health medical services for its clients, thereby achieving genuine health management and significantly enhancing its competitiveness in both domestic and international markets.

Ciming (Boao) International Hospital provides chronic disease wellness and rehabilitation services in Hainan for individuals undergoing annual health check-ups, aiming to reduce the incidence of chronic diseases in China. Chronic diseases are the leading cause of death globally and a significant impediment to China’s future economic development. Han Xiaohong’s vision is to reduce the incidence rate of chronic diseases in China by 50%.

Furthermore, the Ciming Han Doctor International Medical Service Innovation Platform also includes private physician services at Beijing Aoya Hospital, mobile internet-based interpretation of health big data physical examination reports, and the GFG Reproductive Center, one of the top assisted reproductive technology institutions in New York City, USA.

At that time, Ciming (Boao) International Hospital will become the first hospital in the pilot zone to introduce specialized assisted reproductive technology (ART) services. It will host a team of American physicians from internationally renowned ART centers to serve Chinese patients. Led by Dr. Kevin Doody, President of the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART), the medical and technical team comprises multiple professionals with over 20 years of experience in reproductive medicine. Together, they aim to address fertility challenges for patients worldwide while achieving high success rates.

On February 28, 2013, the State Council officially approved the establishment of the Boao Lecheng International Medical Tourism Pilot Zone in Hainan Province and granted nine supportive policies.

This marks the establishment of China’s first national-level development zone, centered on international medical tourism services, low-carbon ecological communities, and a hub for international organizations, injecting new content and vitality into the construction of the International Tourism Island.

Ciming (Boao) International Hospital is one of the first projects approved to settle in the Pilot Zone. Positioned as an international general hospital, it serves high-end medical tourists and business travelers from both domestic and overseas markets. The hospital has obtained JCI (Joint Commission International) accreditation and adopts a “small comprehensive, large specialty” model with hotel-style management.

It is reported that the hospital covers an area of 100 mu, with a building area of 70,000 square meters, a total investment of RMB 1 billion, and a total of 500 beds. The Phase I project, with a building area of 12,000 square meters and 100 beds, is about to commence trial operations.

Ciming (Boao) International Hospital Phase I Architectural Drawings.

It is reported that the 2017 Annual Conference of the Health Management and Health Insurance Branch of the Chinese Non-Public Medical Institutions Association, together with the Boao International Forum on Innovative Services in Shared Healthcare, will be held from November 16 to 18 at Ciming (Boao) International Hospital.

Ciming (Boao) International Hospital made its debut at the “Hainan 2017 Health Expo,” showcasing the vitality of the medical tourism special zone with a fresh perspective, supporting the development of the health industry within the Boao Lecheng International Medical Tourism Pilot Zone, and establishing a shared medical innovation service platform.

On November 17, Ciming (Boao) International Hospital will commence its trial operations. Coinciding with this milestone, the hospital will host the 2017 Annual Conference of the Health Management and Health Insurance Branch of the China Non-Public Medical Institutions Association, alongside the Boao International Forum on Innovative Services in Shared Healthcare. Approximately 200 domestic and international guests and partners are expected to attend, jointly exploring innovative development models for financial services in shared healthcare at Boao. In the era of the sharing economy, the Ciming Han Boshi International Medical Platform will establish a platform for innovation and entrepreneurship for industry professionals, contributing to the advancement of the health sector.