Septemb.

19

Out for surgery

by silvia.spessato

categories China Market

tags medical tourism 

Increasingly, the surging Chinese middle-class is opting for a trip abroad when delicate and expensive medical cures are needed. South Korea is the first choice for plastic surgery, Hong Kong and the US for child birth. Singapore and Japan are common destinations for medical check-ups, whereas US, UK and Germany for cancer treatments. As the Wall Street Journal and Hurun reported, the so-called “medical tourism” by Chinese patients is moving high flows of capitals. Press releases depict Beijing’s healthcare system as strongly conditioned by corruption, personal influences and poor salaries. According to a survey conducted by the Chinese Hospital Association, mistrust undermines relationships between doctors and patients. As the country becomes wealthier, people agree to spend more in exchange for a better medical treatment. According to the World Bank, health expenditures per capita in China have more than doubled since 2008. In front of new needs and expectations, Beijing didn’t stand still and is enlarging its healthcare system: the Ministry of Finance stated that year-on-year spending marked a 13% increase in 2013, reaching €103 billion total, €256 per capita. However, in Germany is still €3,616 per capita. Spending even more than €150,000 to be treated abroad seems to be more and more accepted in China, for life-threatening diseases in particular. Saint Lucia, a Beijing-based intermediary on overseas care, had only two Chinese clients in 2011; nearly 100 in 2012, around 200 the year after.

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Commented by Bill Frankish, 29.08.2017

We at the Candlewood Suites Calgary Airport North, closely located to the Calgary airport YYC, have been certified by the China Tourism Academy as having reached the JADE STANDARD of "Welcome Chinese" Certification. As such we greet each guest with a special Welcome envelope with Chinese information on our extended stay hotel. Guests receive slippers, tea, and have access to kettles and rice cookers at no charge. Some items are available in our little convenience store called The Cupboard, and there is a Chinese Super Market about 2 kilometers away which has a full selection of food items, commonly found in China, including live fish. Also at the same shopping area, an authentic Chinese Restaurant called The T. Pot , China Bistro From our location we have easy access to main highways to take you to Banff National Park, or the Royal Tyrrell Museum, an excellent Dinosaur museum. Candlewood Suites is an excellent location with cooking facilities which provides a great home base as you travel to various attractions in the area.