Twenty-five Pilot Hospitals in Guangdong: Strengthening Synergy with the GBA Urgent Use Policy

The Health Commission of Guangdong Province, together with the provincial healthcare security and medical products authorities, has jointly announced the first batch of pilot hospitals for international medical services. A total of 25 hospitals have been selected. This milestone marks the official implementation of Guangdong’s international medical service pilot program.

Full List of Hospitals

The selected hospitals represent a diverse mix of top-tier public hospitals, renowned traditional Chinese medicine institutions, regional leaders, and high-quality private hospitals:

1. Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital
2. Guangdong Women and Children’s Hospital
3. The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University (Yuexiu Campus, Nansha Campus)
4. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University
5. The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University
6. Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University
7. Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center
8. Hospital of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University
9. The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University
10. Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University
11. Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University
12. The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University
13. Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine
14. The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College
15. The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University
16. Guangzhou First People’s Hospital
17. Guangzhou Women and Children’s Medical Center
18. Shenzhen People’s Hospital
19. Peking University Shenzhen Hospital
20. The University of Hong Kong–Shenzhen Hospital
21. Shenzhen Hospital of Southern Medical University
22. The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University
23. Zhuhai People’s Hospital
24. Clifford Hospital (Guangdong Qifu Hospital)
25. Foshan Fosun Chancheng Hospital

GBA Urgent Use Policy

The Greater Bay Area (GBA) – with a total population of approximately 71.2 million people (5% of China’s total population) – includes nine mega cities of Guangdong province: Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Foshan, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Jiangmen, Huizhou, and Zhaoqing. These nine cities are applicable of urgent use policy for medical devices and drugs starting in May 2021.

While not-yet-approved in the mainland, Hong Kong or Macao approved drugs and medical devices can be utilized in GBA. They can be used only if the significant clinical benefits with urgent needs can be demonstrated.

Click HERE for the latest news for urgent use products in GBA

Click HERE to see how overseas manufacturers utilize the policy

Click HERE for the GBA urgent use policy Q&A

Meeting Growing Global Demand

The launch of this pilot program comes amid rapidly increasing demand for medical services from international patients. In 2025, the number of foreign patients seeking medical care in Guangdong grew by more than 20% year-on-year, with inpatient demand surging by 76.05%. These trends highlight the province’s rising attractiveness as a healthcare destination.

International medical services in Guangdong are defined by the adoption of globally recognized medical standards, service procedures, management systems, and payment mechanisms. They primarily serve Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan residents, expatriates, and overseas Chinese who either pay out-of-pocket or rely on international commercial insurance. These services are not covered by China’s basic medical insurance system. Pilot hospitals are granted flexibility in pricing, allowing them to independently set service fees and adopt a “premium services for premium prices” approach.

Key Initiatives for High-Quality Development

To establish Guangdong as a leading hub for international healthcare, the pilot hospitals will focus on six core initiatives. These include:

• developing dedicated international medical service zones,
• building standardized management systems aligned with global practices,
• innovating cross-border payment solutions,
• accelerating the clinical application of advanced medical technologies,
• exploring internet-based cross-border healthcare services,
• and strengthening international-oriented hospital management.