INDUSTRY BRIEF: China relaxes rules for foreign investment in hospitals

China has unveiled a pilot program to encourage more foreign investment in the country’s hospitals, allowing foreigners to fully own medical facilities in eight cities, including Beijing and Shanghai, Caixin reported on Tuesday. Previously, foreigner investors were only allowed to open such facilities as joint ventures, with local Chinese partners holding at least 30%.

The new policy was jointly announced on Saturday by the Ministry of Commerce, the National Health Commission and the National Medical Products Administration, according to Caixin. Most medical facilities in China are state-owned, though a growing number are also privately operated. The country has varied in its regulatory attitude towards private hospital ownership over the last two decades, making it difficult for private companies to operate in the sector.

Reporting by Doug Young

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