Guangdong Launches International Medical Pilot Scheme to Boost Cross-Border Care for Hong Kong and Macao Residents
- Association Secretary
- 3 days ago
- 4 min read
Shenzhen, 28 March 2026 — A high-level seminar on the integration of international medical services and cross-border commercial insurance payments between Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao was held today at The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital. Experts from the medical, insurance and technology sectors across the mainland, Hong Kong and Macao gathered to address long-standing pain points in cross-border healthcare and explore innovative payment solutions. The Chairman of the Greater Bay Area Healthcare Association was invited to attend the seminar and participated in the panel discussion regarding GBA Cross-Border Healthcare. The event also provided an in-depth interpretation of the newly released Guangdong Provincial International Medical Services Pilot Scheme.
The pilot programme, jointly promoted by Guangdong’s Health Commission, Medical Security Bureau and Drug Supervision Bureau, has officially activated services at 25 carefully selected hospitals. These institutions — including prestigious provincial and ministerial-level hospitals, renowned traditional Chinese medicine hospitals, leading municipal hospitals and high-quality private facilities — are mainly located in the core Pearl River Delta region, creating a diverse and complementary network that precisely meets the cross-border medical needs of Hong Kong and Macao residents.
According to officials from Guangdong’s Health Commission, all pilot hospitals possess strong specialist capabilities and mature international service foundations. Institutions such as The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital and Guangdong Panyu Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine have long served Hong Kong and Macao patients, with cumulative service exceeding one million visits. The pilot further integrates resources, enabling Hong Kong and Macao residents to access high-quality international medical services without long-distance travel, significantly reducing time and transportation costs.
Expanded “Hong Kong and Macao Drug and Device Access” Cross-Border Care Policy
A key highlight of the pilot is the further expansion of the “Hong Kong and Macao Drug and Device Access” policy. Participating hospitals will allow clinical use of advanced drugs and medical devices already approved in Hong Kong and Macao. As of the end of February 2026, Guangdong has approved 153 such items across 71 designated institutions, effectively resolving the long-standing “medication and device incompatibility” issue for cross-border patients.
Full-Cycle International Medical Services with Lingnan TCM Characteristics
The pilot hospitals will provide comprehensive, full-cycle international medical services — ranging from diagnosis of complex diseases and chronic disease management to premium health check-ups, rare disease treatment and rehabilitation — in line with internationally recognised standards. Services will also feature distinctive Lingnan-style Traditional Chinese Medicine, including acupuncture, tuina and “preventive treatment of disease” programmes that align with the medical habits of Hong Kong and Macao residents.
To safeguard public medical resources, pilot hospitals will implement strict physical separation between international and basic medical services, operating dedicated zones and specialised teams with newly added beds. Specialist outpatient slots for international patients will only be arranged after ensuring sufficient capacity for local patients, thereby upholding the public welfare nature of basic healthcare.
HKU-Shenzhen Hospital Builds Comprehensive Multi-Payment System
Professor Zhang Wenzhi, President of The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital — one of the pilot institutions — stated that the hospital will further enhance multilingual services and strengthen collaboration with Hong Kong and overseas medical institutions to handle complex referrals. While firmly upholding the public welfare底线, the hospital aims to deliver convenient, efficient international medical services that also convey the warmth of Greater Bay Area medical integration.
The hospital has established a diversified payment system supporting international credit cards, digital RMB and direct commercial insurance settlement. It has partnered with more than 30 domestic and international insurers and set up dedicated one-on-one service windows. Hong Kong and Macao residents holding commercial insurance can now receive treatment without upfront payment, with hospitals settling directly with insurers — greatly simplifying the process and reducing time and financial burden.
Building a “One-Hour Quality Medical Circle” in the Greater Bay Area Cross-Border Care
The pilot programme outlines six core tasks, including the establishment of international medical demonstration zones, construction of international-standard management systems, innovation in cross-border payment models, promotion of cutting-edge medical technologies, exploration of internet-based cross-border consultations, and strengthened international medical operations management. The goal is to create a new highland for international medical services and accelerate medical integration in the Greater Bay Area.
During the seminar, participants jointly issued the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao International Medical Services High-Quality Development Initiative, committing to four core directions: integrated development, deepened collaborative innovation, improved service quality, and ecosystem co-construction. The initiative aims to build a “one-hour premium medical service circle” across the Greater Bay Area, promote mutual recognition of medical resources and standards, further open direct cross-border insurance payment channels, and elevate medical service quality to internationally recognised standards.
Hong Kong Patients Now Account for Nearly 30% at HKU-Shenzhen Hospital
With the continued deepening of Greater Bay Area integration, northbound medical travel by Hong Kong residents has become the new normal. At The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Hong Kong patients now account for 28–30% of outpatient visits and approximately 16% of inpatient cases — a sharp increase from 5–8% in 2022. Popular specialties include Traditional Chinese Medicine, orthopaedics, cardiology, ophthalmology and oncology.
Many Hong Kong seniors have chosen the mainland as their preferred destination for medical care and retirement. The expansion of the Hong Kong Elderly Health Care Voucher Scheme to cover 21 tertiary hospitals in the Greater Bay Area has greatly enhanced convenience and peace of mind for cross-border elderly care.
Industry observers noted that the launch of Guangdong’s first batch of international medical service pilots not only provides Hong Kong and Macao residents with more convenient, high-quality and efficient cross-border medical services, but also accelerates the integration of the Greater Bay Area’s medical system with international standards, injecting strong momentum into the region’s healthcare development.
The pilot will run from 2026 to 2027 and includes a dynamic exit mechanism to continuously optimise the list of participating hospitals and elevate service quality.
