China's international medical tourism market is growing rapidly
In 2025, China's international medical tourism revenue grew 35% year-on-year, with Shanghai becoming the top destination for international patients seeking treatment in China. The trend reflects the steadily rising global competitiveness of China's medical services.
Key growth drivers
The rapid growth of the international medical tourism market rests on four main pillars. First, China's leadership in frontier treatments, including CAR-T cell therapy and iPSC stem cell therapy. Second, the gradual relaxation of visa-free policies, which has significantly lowered entry barriers. Third, the continuous internationalization of medical services, with more hospitals equipping multilingual international service teams. Fourth, the significant cost advantage: for equivalent treatment quality, costs are 30%-70% lower than in Europe and the United States.
Where patients come from
International patients seeking treatment in China mainly come from Russia, Southeast Asia and the Middle East. Among them, growth from Russian patients is the most significant, with a year-on-year increase of more than 50%. Thanks to its dense cluster of JCI-accredited international hospitals, renowned public hospitals such as Ruijin, Huashan and Zhongshan, and convenient international transport links, Shanghai has become the first choice for most patients.
Shanghai's core appeal
Shanghai's core appeal lies in concentrating elite medicine in a single city: more than 36 top hospitals in one city, covering every specialty from oncology and cardiology to orthopedics, ophthalmology and aesthetics. Patients can complete their entire treatment journey without traveling between cities, while enjoying efficient appointments that see a specialist within three working days. As a Shanghai-based cross-border medical platform, MedBridge continues to provide professional, transparent medical-travel services to patients from around the world.