Guangming Science City, a vital center for technological innovation in Shenzhen and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), has experienced a remarkable influx of foreign-funded enterprises and overseas talent in recent years.
This growing international presence has led to more diverse medical needs within the science city. In response, the International Medical Center (IMC) was established at the Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University (SAH-SYSU) to meet these emerging healthcare demands.
The IMC has served nearly 400 patients since opening in August 2023, with an impressive one-third of them being overseas visitors from countries such as the United States, Australia, and Ireland, as well as from China's Hong Kong and Taiwan, Dr. Ma Lin, director of the IMC, told Shenzhen Daily during a recent interview.
"We are the first in the district to process direct commercial insurance payments for our patients," Dr. Ma stated.
Commercial insurance direct payment is a critical service for high-end medical insurance. The IMC has implemented a process that allows foreign nationals, as well as residents from Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan, along with various VIP groups, to receive medical treatment using their insurance cards without needing to pay out-of-pocket at the time of service. This streamlined solution effectively alleviates reimbursement challenges for patients and significantly enhances their medical experience, according to Dr. Ma.
The IMC has access to all medical resources available at SAH-SYSU, offering a wide range of services including medical treatment, healthcare, and rehabilitation.
SAH-SYSU began operations in May 2018 and spans an area of 235,200 square meters, with a planned capacity of 4,000 beds.
The hospital has introduced 27 national key clinical specialty teams. The hospital features two Nobel Laureate Laboratories, one Guangdong Key Laboratory, and two Shenzhen Key Laboratories.
The IMC stands ready to provide medical support for international events, Dr. Ma noted, as the district increasingly hosts various international academic conferences and sporting events. The center is equipped to offer medical services in multiple languages, including English, German, French, Swedish, Japanese, and Korean.
"Some of our expat patients have formed friendships with the medical staff," Dr. Ma shared with Shenzhen Daily. "One of my patients, an American mother who gave birth in our medical center last year, now sends me pictures of her baby to share her joy," she added with a smile.
To strengthen medical cooperation between Shenzhen and Hong Kong and facilitate cross-border medical services for Hong Kong residents, SAH-SYSU signed a cooperation agreement with Nanyang Commercial Bank in Hong Kong in June 2024.
This partnership aims to foster deep collaboration in the field of cross-border medical services. In recent years, there has been a growing interest among Hong Kong residents in seeking healthcare services on the Chinese mainland.
This collaboration combines resources to offer comprehensive, high-quality medical services to Hong Kong residents.