Bodejialian Doctor Group Medical Co., Ltd. – China's First Licensed Doctor Group – Files for IPO

On March 8, “Shenzhen Bode Jialian Doctor Group Medical Co., Ltd.” (hereinafter referred to as “Bode Jialian”) officially obtained its business license. This is the first company in China named with “Doctor Group,” with Lin Feng, one of the “Three Musketeers of Lingnan” recognized as pioneers exploring physicians’ independent practice, serving as its legal representative.



The company’s predecessor was a private physician studio founded by the “Lingnan Three Musketeers,” comprising the “Lin Feng Gastrointestinal Oncology Physician Studio” led by Dr. Lin Feng, Director of the Department of General Surgery at the Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University; the “Xie Rushi Physician Studio” established by Associate Professor Xie Rushi of the same hospital; and the “Zhang Ziqian Neck, Shoulder, Waist, and Leg Pain Physician Studio” founded by Professor Zhang Ziqian of the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University.

Two Major Breakthroughs

According to Lin Feng, the establishment of Better Doctor Group marks two major breakthroughs: First, there was previously no recognized “physician group” industry in China; its formal registration as a company signifies official recognition of this sector. Second, whereas the term “medical care” could not previously be registered independently and required the addition of “consulting,” it now appears that under existing laws, a “physician group medical company” can enter into contracts with hospitals and should also be permitted to operate medical institutions. It is reported that Better Doctor Group is currently applying for a Medical Institution Practice License and will release updates on its progress shortly.

Liao Xinbo, Chief Designer of the Physician Group Studio and Inspector General of the Guangdong Provincial Health Department, stated on Weibo that the medical profession is essentially a trade in knowledge and expertise; whether employed by an institution or practicing independently, physicians provide knowledge and skills for disease prevention and treatment. The successful registration of physician groups will significantly promote the diversification of employment models for doctors, particularly by facilitating physician mobility and enhancing their professional value. This approach also serves as an effective means to advance the market-driven implementation of tiered diagnosis and treatment.

About Private Doctor Studios

Date of Establishment:May 15, 2015。

Positioning:For mid-to-high-end patients, consultation fees range from 500 to 2,000 yuan. These fees are not covered by medical insurance, and prices will be determined by the market after the trial operation period.

Venue:By partnering with health examination institutions and leveraging their equipment resources, we can provide patients with a range of health screenings, including cancer screening.

Patient Care Process:Private physician services are limited to consultation and diagnosis. If patients require procedures such as surgery or prescription medications, they will be referred to the Tier 3 Grade A hospitals where these private physicians are affiliated, allowing patients to benefit from medical insurance reimbursement under prevailing policies.

Consultation Hours:In the initial phase, appointments are scheduled based on patients' preferred times, aiming to avoid overlap with doctors' working hours at their primary practice hospitals.

Challenges:The healthcare industry relies on word-of-mouth; the shift from recognizing institutions to recognizing individual practitioners requires time to build.

Xie Rushi has stated that for physician groups to survive, they must effectively address three key issues: practice locations, clients, and teams. 1. The partner health checkup provider, iKang Anjun, operates over 80 centers across China, thereby resolving the establishment of all practice locations; 2. Among the millions of annual health checkup clients, a basic client base is secured. Having a steady stream of clients enables physicians to earn respectable incomes, which in turn attracts many outstanding peers to join; 3. Outpatient clinics are situated within health checkup institutions. This arrangement aligns with the institutions’ strong desire to close the loop from health screening to treatment, creating a robust demand for collaboration; 4. Under the model of partnering with health checkup institutions at the front end and referring patients back to public hospitals at the back end, the operational costs of the studios are very low, and private physician studios have already begun to generate profits.