Accelerating efforts to make the island of Hainan into a center for medical innovation—and medical tourism — local authorities have approved an insurance plan for the island that will cover foreign drugs and treatments not yet approved on the mainland.
The government-backed insurance is the latest move by Chinese authorities to establish preferential policies in Hainan. Earlier this year, Beijing allowed imports to the island province of medical devices, technology, and drugs that are hard to access in the mainland.
The insurance will be available to Hainan residents and to residents from other parts of China, who will pay hefty premiums for it. The insurance policy covers 49 drugs that have not been approved for sale elsewhere in China, including 70 cancer treatments.