by HUANG Hua, CHEN Yang

Shanghai officials and policymakers have proposed upgrading international-facing medical units at major hospitals and expanding AI-enabled telemedicine services, as the city looks to use looser visa rules and digital health tools to attract overseas patients and boost services trade.

The proposals were raised during Shanghai's annual political meetings, the city's so-called "two sessions"，where local officials and political advisers meet to discuss policy priorities for the year.

Shanghai's international medical services remain fragmented despite the city's strong healthcare resources, limiting its ability to attract overseas demand, said XU Meidong, a municipal policy adviser and a deputy head of East Hospital Affiliated To Tongji University.

The proposals envision strengthening international-facing medical units that serve foreign and overseas Chinese patients, alongside broader use of AI-assisted remote diagnosis and cross-border consultations. A citywide platform could link Shanghai hospitals with overseas patients through telemedicine services and partnerships with foreign medical institutions.

The plan also calls for tapping overseas Chinese networks as referral channels, using diaspora connections to lower barriers for foreign patients seeking treatment in Shanghai.

Xu also suggested targeted policies to attract overseas Chinese capital and talent into international medical projects in the city, including incentives for medical professionals and managers to return and start businesses.

Advisers argued that Shanghai should pursue a two-way approach, combining inbound medical tourism with outbound service exports. On the inbound side, they said the city could integrate healthcare with tourism and insurance services to attract overseas Chinese and foreign visitors for higher-end offerings such as health management and specialized check-ups. On the outbound side, qualified institutions could partner with overseas hospitals to establish joint clinics and export Shanghai's medical expertise and management experience.

Similar themes emerged in proposals on health tourism. FENG Yu, a municipal adviser and president of Pudong New Area Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, suggested using Xinchang Ancient Town, a historic tourist area on the outskirts of Shanghai, as a pilot base for traditional Chinese medicine-focused health tourism.

Feng said that while interest in therapies such as acupuncture, massage and dietary treatment is growing among foreign visitors, inconsistent standards have undermined credibility. He proposed developing regulated wellness services rather than hospital-based treatment, with standardized processes covering assessment, treatment plans and follow-up.

The Xinchang pilot, he said, could serve as a template for broader rollout, with local standards eventually aligned with international frameworks to improve recognition of China's health tourism offerings.

Both sets of proposals come as Chinese cities seek to diversify growth in services trade and develop new, higher-value sectors.