A buyer from Libya has his blood sugar measured with the help of staff at the international medical service zone. Photo: Mei Ziyi, Nanfang Daily

Guangzhou, October 2026 — For the first time in its 70-year history, the China Import and Export Fair, better known as the Canton Fair, has opened an international medical service zone. When the zone opened on October 15 at the 140th session of the fair, 19 medical institutions exhibited together, among them Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Nanfang Hospital, Zhujiang Hospital, the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University and Fosun Health, presenting to the world how medical services in Guangdong, and in China, are opening up.

On the same day, Guangdong launched its first digital medical tourism platform, GZ Medigo.

More foreigners seeking care in Guangdong

“After attending such a big trade fair, I felt a bit stressed and tired,” said Talita, a visitor who tried a tuina massage at the zone. “After the massage, I felt completely relaxed and calm.”

A short experience at a trade fair is only a glimpse. What draws overseas patients from afar, first of all, is solid clinical strength. Hu Hang, Chairman and CEO of Fosun Health, said that high-level medical technology, advanced equipment and cost-effective medical services are the main reasons overseas patients choose to come to China for treatment.

Liang Yunyu, Deputy Director of the International Medical Department at Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, shared a story from the previous session of the fair. A buyer from Indonesia who had suffered from headaches for a long time came to try acupuncture. The first treatment brought good results, and after five sessions her cervical spine symptoms had largely eased. She later brought her whole family to the hospital.

Another exhibitor brought the story of a puncture surgery robot. In April this year, two elderly lung cancer patients from Macao were referred to Hengqin, where, with the robot’s assistance, they underwent difficult lung biopsies and cryoablation treatment. The deepest puncture reached 16 centimeters, and the doctors hit the target in a single attempt.

Data show that more than 3.2 million entries by foreign nationals were recorded in Guangzhou in 2025. The number of foreigners seeking medical care in Guangdong rose by more than 20 percent year on year, and demand for inpatient care rose by 76.05 percent.

One-stop service, from booking to follow-up

Unlike ordinary trade in goods, what staff in the medical zone handed to buyers was not a business card or a product brochure, but a complete closed-loop service: appointments, visa assistance, ticket booking and airport transfers, translation of medical records and guided visits throughout, and, after discharge, follow-up care and direct insurance settlement, all handled in one place. Behind this process are years of steady work by Guangdong’s medical institutions on cross-border services.

Sun Jia, Director of the International Medical Center at Zhujiang Hospital of Southern Medical University, said at the opening ceremony that the hospital has built a service framework of “two green channels, three commitments, a four-step closed loop of care, and five-star supporting standards,” covering every stage before, during and after treatment. Once overseas patients have booked an appointment, Sun said, they can simply “hop on a plane and come to China.”

Digital tools are also shortening the distance. Jie Yusheng, Director of the Medical Affairs Department at the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, said the hospital’s internet hospital now covers the whole process, from communication before a visit to services during treatment and follow-up afterwards.

GZ Medigo: a digital front door for international patients

GZ Medigo, rolled out by the Guangzhou International Medical Tourism Service Center, allows foreign nationals to browse Guangzhou’s medical facilities, register for services, book appointments and make payments in multiple currencies through a mobile app. The platform bundles medical navigation, multilingual interpretation, attendant support, lodging, transfers, wellness and insurance claims into integrated packages, with real-time treatment updates and cross-border online payment.

Luo Qian, Deputy General Manager of the center, said the platform brings medical services, cross-border insurance, cultural experiences and hospitality together in a single end-to-end offering for international patients.

Meng Hao, Deputy Secretary-General of the Guangzhou Municipal Government, said at the opening ceremony that the zone marks the first time medical services have been showcased at the Canton Fair. The city, she said, will continue promoting its high-quality medical resources, align with the needs of the international medical market, and explore new models that combine cross-border medical care with wellness tourism.

Policy support picks up pace

In March this year, Guangdong’s health commission, medical insurance bureau and drug administration jointly announced the first 25 pilot hospitals for international medical services in the province, including long-established provincial and national hospitals, well-known hospitals of Chinese medicine, leading municipal hospitals and high-quality private hospitals. In April, the Guangzhou International Medical Tourism Service Center was officially inaugurated, and Guangzhou released 12 measures to support the development of international medical services.

By the end of February 2026, 153 urgently needed drugs and medical devices had been approved under the Greater Bay Area policy that allows the use of Hong Kong and Macao drugs and devices, with 71 designated medical institutions. Three designated hospitals under Fosun Health have received more than 100 approvals for innovative international drugs and devices, covering major conditions such as coronary heart disease, atrial fibrillation, osteoporosis and breast tumors.

Companies are moving quickly too. BeiGene, Yipinhong, and Zhenjiankang were among those presenting innovative products in the zone, hoping to use this international platform to bring advanced medical technology to the world.

With medical services now on the Canton Fair stage, Guangdong is showing not only the warmth and strength of its medical care, but also a cross-border medical system that is being built at speed. With the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area as its hub, China is taking part in global health cooperation with an ever more open attitude.

Editor: Chen Qing

If you need any help with medical care in China, be free to let us know at Chenqing@ShanghaiDoctor.cn.

Translated and adapted from Nanfang Daily (南方日报), “广东跨境医疗服务吸引全球客商”; with additional reporting from China Daily, “Guangdong launches its first digital medical tourism platform at Canton Fair”.