Boao Lecheng medical access initiative launches Xi'an event

An academic forum under the Boao Lecheng Licensed Drugs and Medical Devices Access Initiative was held in Xi'an, Northwest China's Shaanxi province, on Oct 31.

The event brought together more than 400 medical experts, hospital administrators, healthcare practitioners and media representatives to discuss how globally innovative therapeutic resources can better meet clinical and public health needs across Northwest China.

Hosted at the JW Marriott Hotel Xi'an Hailong, the event serves as a key platform to channel medical advances from the Boao Lecheng International Medical Tourism Pilot Zone — China's only national pilot zone for opening up healthcare services — to Shaanxi and neighboring regions. It builds on the national strategy of prioritizing people's health, with a focus on linking frontier medical resources with local diagnosis, treatment and long-term health management.

Boao Lecheng operates under special pilot policies that allow early access to innovative therapies. To date, the zone has introduced more than 600 drugs and medical devices not yet available on the Chinese mainland, and approved 58 advanced biomedical technology programs covering tumors, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, liver diseases, diabetes, rare diseases and other serious illnesses.

Representatives from leading medical institutions in Lecheng, including Ruijin Hospital Hainan Branch of Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, West China Hospital Boao Lecheng Campus, Boao Super Hospital and Pengbo (Hainan) BNCT Hospital, attended the forum. Officials from the pilot zone explained its regulatory framework for licensed therapies, while medical specialists from Hainan and Shaanxi shared experiences on translating global medical progress into local clinical practice.

A range of cutting-edge treatment modalities were presented at the session. These included boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT), yttrium-90 glass microsphere interventional therapy, the glioma-targeted drug Vorasidenib, personalized oncology interventions and hepatocyte-based therapies. Discussions also covered tumor genetic testing, pharmaceutical interventions for presbyopia and non-invasive procedures for varicose veins, opening new perspectives for regional clinical exploration.

Beyond introducing new therapies, the forum explored sustainable models of full-cycle health management that run through pre-treatment evaluation, intervention, rehabilitation and long-term follow-up. Participants examined how continuous health monitoring, risk assessment and personalized care plans can extend the benefits of advanced treatment into patients' daily lives.

The gathering featured panel discussions and special sessions on coordinated diagnosis, cross-regional referral and rehabilitation management between Lecheng and local medical teams. Patient representatives also shared their expectations, offering practical input to improve consultation, treatment and follow-up services.

Seven local medical institutions signed agreements at the event to join the Boao Lecheng Licensed Drugs and Medical Devices Alliance. The alliance members will promote regular academic exchanges, resource sharing and localized rehabilitation services, so that patients in Shaanxi and the wider Northwest can access suitable frontier treatment pathways in a more orderly way.

This Xi'an stop marks the second major event of the national initiative, following its launch in Zhengzhou on Aug 29. The series is designed to break geographical barriers and build a collaborative network between the Hainan medical pilot zone and regional healthcare systems across the country.

Organizers said the next academic exchange of the initiative will take place in Chengdu in December to expand cooperation in Southwest China. The rolling nationwide events aim to build stable channels for clinicians and patients to learn about internationally innovative therapies, access appropriate treatment options and receive continuous rehabilitation support, advancing the implementation of the Healthy China initiative.