DeltaHealth Hospital becomes first wholly foreign-owned hospital in Shanghai

The DeltaHealth Hospital Shanghai. [Photo/DeltaHealth Hospital Shanghai's website]

DeltaHealth Hospital Shanghai became the first wholly foreign-owned hospital in the city on March 14, after receiving approval from the Shanghai Municipal Health Commission.

China launched a pilot program in September 2024 to allow more foreign investment in the healthcare sector, with cities including Beijing, Shanghai, and Tianjin chosen to pilot wholly foreign-owned hospitals.

DeltaHealth Hospital Shanghai started as a joint venture in 2016 and became part of Shanghai's medical insurance system in 2018, In May 2024, Swire Pacific Limited announced that it had completed a shareholding increase of DeltaHealth China Ltd, taking full ownership of the hospital.

Located in Qingpu district, DeltaHealth is a tertiary hospital specializing in cardiovascular care, featuring departments such as cardiology, cardiovascular surgery, and oncology. It also offers a wide range of services, including internal medicine, surgery, pediatrics, and traditional Chinese medicine.

In late February, the Shanghai Municipal Health Commission stated that it will continue to promote the pilot work of further loosening restrictions related to wholly foreign-owned hospitals and facilitate the establishment of such medical institutions in the city.

Jin Chunlin, director of the Shanghai Health Development Research Center, said that while Shanghai already boasts a wealth of medical resources, the introduction of wholly foreign-owned hospitals will undoubtedly enrich the overall healthcare service system.

The advanced medical technologies and service concepts brought by foreign-owned hospitals can foster healthy competition with domestic top-tier medical institutions, diversify public healthcare options, and further upgrade the medical industry ecosystem, he said.