Healthcare is one of the six major open services in the new Shanghai Free-Trade Zone. An important task of the Free-Trade Zone is to expand the service sector, which includes healthcare and education. As the Free-Trade Zone further opens the healthcare industry and lowers the threshold, more and more foreign medical institutions are entering the special region, which not only shows the determination of the Chinese government in further opening special service sectors, but also reflects the increasing and diversified medical needs of different groups.

The Shanghai Municipal Commission of Health and Family Planning has developed and issued the Measures for the Administration of Exclusively Foreign-Owned Medical Institutions in the China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone together with relevant agencies to clarify the standards and procedures for establishing exclusively foreign-owned medical institutions. By 2020, there will be four high-end foreign hospitals open in Pudong, including Shanghai United Family Pudong Hospital (SHUPH) which is now officially open to serve patients, and is also the first foreign-owned hospital to be open in the Free-Trade Zone.

On June 1, 2018, the Sino-American Health Development Seminar and launch ceremony of the facility were successfully held at Shanghai United Family Pudong Hospital located in Jinqiao, Pudong. More than 200 guests witnessed the grand opening, including people from premium communities, international schools and chambers of commerce in Shanghai, officials from Shanghai Municipal Commission of Health and Family Planning and People’s Government of Pudong, the U.S. Ambassador to China, and representatives from Fortune 500 enterprises. These delegates conducted in-depth discussions on health cooperation between China and the United States as well as the development of foreign medical services in the Free-Trade Zone.

At the launch ceremony, Mr. Fan Jincheng, Director of Pudong Commission of Health and Family Planning, granted a medical institution license to Shanghai United Family Pudong Hospital (SHUPH).

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International medical team of United Family to provide professional and attentive service

Shanghai United Family Pudong Hospital located at 1598 Xinjinqiao Road is operated by United Family Healthcare. The hospital with a building area of over 10,000m2, 200 beds, and more than 20 clinical departments including Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Surgery, Dental Clinic, Dermatology and Aesthetic center, and Traditional Chinese Medicine aims to provide high-quality, efficient, and personalized medical services for citizens in Shanghai.

Shanghai United Family Pudong Hospital focuses on building a continuous chain of medical services covering preventive healthcare, disease diagnosis, therapy, and rehabilitation. The state-of-the-art hospital can help patients throughout their entire lifecycle by maintaining permanent electronic medical records for patients, and providing full lifecycle medical services.

As a featured department, the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology has world-class obstetricians, gynecologists, midwives, and nurses, who can provide mothers-to-be with professional and meticulous prenatal care as well as safe and scientific guidance. In order to provide complete service throughout pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum, the hospital also seamlessly links obstetrics with the Postpartum Rehabilitation Department to ensure patients receive professional and meticulous postpartum rehabilitation care. The Obstetrics Department and Pediatrics Department, with strong international medical teams and outstanding expertise, will provide professional treatment plans and caring service. The Pediatrics Department will provide various pediatric services such as preventive healthcare, pediatric specialty outpatient, pediatric inpatient, and newborn care.

Shanghai United Family Pudong Hospital adopts the membership and group membership system. All infants born in the hospital and their mothers will receive lifelong memberships with access to comprehensive medical services provided by the hospital. The hospital can provide a 24-hour reservation service for outpatients. The emergency department also provides a 24-hour service to rescue patients at any time. The staff of the hospital can speak up to 20 languages. Both inpatients and outpatients can enjoy a convenient environment, professional staff, and comfortable medical experience at the hospital.

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Taking the opportunity to accelerate development of high-end medical service in the Free-Trade Zone

As an important measure to deepen medical reform, improve the livelihood of citizens, expand domestic demands, promote employment, and drive economic growth, the Shanghai government is accelerating the development of healthcare services. While attracting exclusively foreign-owned medical institutions to enter the Free-Trade Zone, the government has integrated the development of social medical institutions into the municipal planning for health and medical institutions. This expedites the construction of an international medical park and development of high-end medical service.

Aside from the huge development opportunities, the high-end healthcare market also implies a higher level of competition. Dr. Zhang Chengyu, General Manager of Shanghai United Family Pudong Hospital, said that the high-quality medical institutions set up by foreign investors through exclusive investments or joint ventures will bring with them excellent medical professionals, advanced medical technology, mature management experience, and outstanding operation models. United Family Healthcare, with JCI accreditation standards, can provide general medical services in-line with the international medical system. Shanghai United Family Pudong Hospital has employees from 25 countries, and most of its physicians are foreigners. In the future, more attending physicians will come from the United States, Europe, among many other countries.

In addition, the most attractive part of the institutional innovation of foreign hospitals in the Free-Trade Zone is the introduction of drugs and equipment. At two national conferences this year, several delegates also recommended leveraging the Free-Trade Zone as the pilot site for opening up the medical and healthcare fields in an attempt to introduce advanced foreign medical institutions and life-saving drugs into the Free-Trade Zone.

The Free-Trade Zone will also explore the clinical use of imported drugs, and streamline the approval process for foreign medicine. The opening policy of foreign medical service will further accelerate the development of private medical institutions, facilitate the exchange of scientific and technological knowledge, form a diversified healthcare structure, and break the monopoly of public hospitals.

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United Family Healthcare (UFH)

As China’s first foreign-funded medical institution, United Family Healthcare (UFH) has been operating for over 20 years since the inauguration of its first hospital in 1997. The organization is present in seven major cities across the country, and a number of its medical institutions have been accredited by Joint Commission International (JCI). UFH’s vision is to be Asia’s premium healthcare system, and its core values that all employees follow are: ICARE which stand for, Innovative, Caring, Accountable, Respectful, and Excellent. UFH’s sole mission is to provide comprehensive and integrated healthcare in a uniquely warm, caring, patient and service-oriented environment, whilst delivering cutting-edge healthcare technologies, as well as quality products and services to the communities with pride. Over the past 20 years, UFH has provided diverse, reliable, high quality, and convenient healthcare services.

Shanghai United Family Healthcare (SHM) 

As a major branch of UFH, Shanghai United Family Healthcare (SHM) upholds UFH’s core values by engaging senior doctors with international backgrounds and experience in Shanghai’s top medical universities. Sophisticated facilities and high-quality staff are always ready to provide patients with quality, safe and effective diagnosis and treatment services. SHM now has two full service hospitals and four outpatient clinics in key areas around Shanghai, Wuxi, and Nanjing.

Shanghai United Family Pudong Hospital (SHUPH)

Shanghai United Family Pudong Hospital (SHUPH) commenced operations on June 12. SHUPH is a general medical institute that provides patients with an extensive range of services. As a member of UFH, SHUPH has been dedicated to providing unique and comprehensive healthcare in a warm and comfortable environment. Its sole mission is to provide patients from all countries and regions with quality and patient-oriented healthcare services in a highly personalized setting.