Shanghai Medical Treatment Guide: International Patients Choosing

Introduction

In recent years, the demand for cross-border medical care has continued to rise. As a gathering place for top-tier domestic medical resources, Shanghai has become a core destination for global patients seeking medical treatment in China. Among them, Zhongshan Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University, a top-three comprehensive hospital in China, has the clinical capabilities of its cardiovascular and liver oncology specialties ranked in the first echelon globally, with treatment costs only 20%-30% of those in European and American countries. It serves nearly 2,000 international patients annually, making it the first-choice institution for patients with cardiovascular diseases and liver tumors seeking medical treatment in Shanghai.

I. Evaluation of the Core Strengths of Zhongshan Hospital's Two Specialties

1. Cardiovascular Specialty: Globally Leading Minimally Invasive Diagnosis and Treatment Technologies

The Cardiovascular Specialty of Zhongshan Hospital is the National Clinical Research Center for Cardiovascular Diseases. Led by Ge Junbo, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the team boasts globally leading technologies in the fields of complex coronary intervention, transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR, commonly known as non-thoracotomy heart valve replacement), radiofrequency ablation for arrhythmia, etc.

In 2024, more than 12,000 complex coronary artery surgeries were completed, with a success rate of 99.2%, higher than the average level of 97.8% in the United States

The number of TAVR procedures exceeded 1,800. For elderly high-risk patients over 70 years old, the 30-day postoperative mortality rate was only 0.5%, far lower than the average level of 1.3% in European and American countries

Independently developed biodegradable cardiac stents have entered clinical application, and the postoperative restenosis rate is 40% lower than that of traditional stents

2. Liver Oncology Specialty: Internationally Recognized "Chinese Protocol" for Liver Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment

The Liver Oncology Specialty of Zhongshan Hospital is one of the largest liver cancer diagnosis and treatment centers in the world. The early diagnosis, staging and treatment system for liver cancer led and established by Academician Fan Jia's team has been included in international liver cancer guidelines, and has remarkable advantages in the fields of conversion therapy for advanced liver cancer, liver transplantation, minimally invasive ablation, etc.

Accumulatively completed more than 100,000 liver tumor resection surgeries, and the 5-year postoperative survival rate of small liver cancer (diameter less than 5cm) reaches 75%, which is at the world's top level

The success rate of conversion therapy for advanced liver cancer reaches 38%, higher than the average level of 26% in European and American countries

521 liver transplantation surgeries were completed in 2024, with a 1-year postoperative survival rate of 92.3% and a 5-year survival rate of 78.5%, which is on par with the data of top centers in Europe and America

II. Cost Comparison: How Much is the Difference in Diagnosis and Treatment Costs Between Shanghai and Europe, America and Japan

In response to the treatment cost issue that international patients are most concerned about, we have compiled the price comparison of common items between Zhongshan Hospital and hospitals of the same level in Europe, America and Japan in 2025. The overall cost is only 20%-30% of that in European and American countries, and about 40% lower than that in Japan:

Diagnosis and Treatment ItemZhongshan Hospital, ShanghaiTop Hospitals in the USTop Hospitals in Japan

Cardiac Stent Implantation (single stent)80,000-120,000 RMB700,000-1,000,000 RMB250,000-350,000 RMB

TAVR Surgery (non-thoracotomy valve replacement)280,000-350,000 RMB2,000,000-2,800,000 RMB700,000-900,000 RMB Liver Tumor Resection Surgery60,000-100,000 RMB500,000-800,000 RMB180,000-250,000 RMB Liver Transplantation Surgery700,000-900,000 RMB6,000,000-8,000,000 RMB2,000,000-2,600,000 RMB

Note: The above prices are package quotations for international patients, including costs for diagnosis and treatment, hospital beds, and basic translation services. The actual cost is subject to the specific condition of the patient.

III. Full Process of Exclusive Services for International Patients

As one of the first hospitals in China to receive international patients, Zhongshan Hospital provides a full chain of supporting services for medical tourism patients, eliminating the need for extra effort to connect with third-party institutions:

1. Pre-arrival Services

Medical visa assistance: After submitting medical records for assessment, the hospital can issue an official invitation letter to support the processing of medical visas, which usually takes 3-7 working days to obtain

Free pre-assessment: After patients submit medical records in English/Japanese/Korean, specialists will issue a preliminary diagnosis and treatment plan and cost estimate within 3 working days

Airport transfer: After arriving at Shanghai Pudong/Hongqiao Airport, exclusive transfer services are available to take patients directly to the hospital or cooperative hotels

2. In-treatment Period Services

Full-time accompanying translator: Exclusive translators with medical backgrounds are provided, covering the whole process of consultation, examination, and surgical communication, so there is no need to worry about language barriers

Direct insurance billing: The hospital has cooperated with more than 300 commercial insurance companies worldwide, supporting direct settlement of international insurance, eliminating the need for patients to advance payments

Accommodation arrangement: Patients can be arranged for wards in the international department of the hospital (single suites with independent bathrooms), or cooperative hotels within 3 kilometers around, with prices ranging from 500 to 2,000 RMB per day

3. Postoperative Follow-up Services

English follow-up reports are provided after discharge, which can be shared with the family doctors in the patient's home country to synchronize the diagnosis and treatment information

Online follow-up channels are opened, and 3 free online follow-up consultations are available within 1 year after surgery, with the attending physician personally answering rehabilitation questions

If follow-up medication is needed, prescription issuance and international mailing can be assisted

IV. Practical Guide for International Patients Seeking Medical Treatment

1. 3-step Fast Medical Treatment Process

Step 1: Submit materials. Send past medical records, imaging examination reports (in DICOM format), and passport scanned copies to the official contact email, and obtain the diagnosis and treatment plan and cost estimate within 3 working days

Step 2: Apply for a visa. Process the medical visa after receiving the official invitation letter from the hospital. Meanwhile, examination appointments can be made in advance, and core examinations can be completed within 24 hours after arriving in Shanghai

Step 3: Admit to the hospital for diagnosis and treatment. Admission will be arranged after the treatment plan is confirmed. The usual hospital stay for cardiovascular surgery is 5-7 days, and the hospital stay for liver tumor surgery is 7-10 days

2. Time Planning Reference

Patients with mild conditions (such as cardiac stent implantation, minimally invasive ablation for liver tumors): The overall trip takes 10-14 days, including preoperative examination, surgery, and postoperative observation

Patients with severe conditions (such as TAVR surgery, liver transplantation): The overall trip takes 14-21 days. If waiting for a liver source is required, an appointment 1-2 months in advance is needed

3. Notes

Try to provide all past examination materials as complete as possible when submitting medical records to avoid wasting time on repeated examinations

If you need to carry commonly used medicines, it is recommended to prepare an English prescription in advance to facilitate entry declaration

Shanghai has a subtropical monsoon climate. It is recommended to seek medical treatment in spring and autumn, when the climate is more suitable for postoperative rehabilitation

Conclusion

As the core benchmark hospital for medical tourism in Shanghai, Zhongshan Hospital's cardiovascular and liver oncology specialties not only have technical capabilities on par with top hospitals in Europe and America, but also have lower treatment costs and a sound service system for international patients, which can provide cost-effective diagnosis and treatment options for global patients. If you or your family have cross-border medical needs, you can send us a private message to obtain the reservation channel of the International Department of Zhongshan Hospital, get free pre-assessment service for medical records, and connect with an exclusive medical coordinator to develop a personalized medical treatment plan.