Province boosts global medical development

By Cao Yingying | China Daily | Updated: 2018-04-11 07:50

Henan province has become an important player in China's healthcare industry due to its cooperation with global medical institutions and policy directed at better industrial development.

Last year, Henan's health and family planning commission signed contracts for 39 projects in the province, drawing an investment of 26.97 billion yuan ($4.28 billion).

The provincial government has placed great importance on attracting overseas investment and projects in recent years, many of which have achieved fruitful results.

The China-US (Henan) Hormel Cancer Institute opened in 2014.

The institute focuses on drug research for the prevention of esophageal cancer and liver cancer based on data gathered from patients in China.

The institute is the partner of 10 platforms, including a national demonstration center for gene testing, as well as launching 16 of its own research projects at national and provincial levels.

Construction on the Sino-US (Henan) Tuberculosis Prevention and Treatment Academy by the Henan provincial bureau of health started in 2009 and the project is progressing steadily, according to government officials.

Much of the investment has been attracted through Henan's active participation in high-profile industry events, such as the 11th China (Henan) International Fair for Investment and Trade. At this event, which was held last year, Henan promoted its rapid development in healthcare to attendees from around the globe.

The central Chinese province also provides cooperative platforms for medical organizations to seek opportunities through such events.

Henan Luoyang Bonesetting Hospital has cooperated with the France-based Orthopedic Association to set up a Sino-French orthopedic cooperation center in the hospital last October.

The two sides share information on medical technology, scientific research and personnel training. Similarly, the Henan Provincial Chest Hospital has signed a cooperation memorandum with the department of cardiothoracic surgery at the Affiliated Hospital of the University of Muenster in Germany. Officials from the provincial government said that Henan hopes to promote traditional Chinese medicine worldwide through the national Belt and Road Initiative.

The First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine has cooperated with the University of Salerno in Italy to build a clinical research center for infectious diseases.

The Henan hospital has also signed an agreement with the Thai TCM Association to build a Sino-Thai medical cooperation demonstration base.

As a part of its involvement in the Belt and Road Initiative, Henan has also reached out to counterparts in Africa to assist them with healthcare development.

A trauma treatment center and a maternal and child health center were launched by Henan Provincial People Hospital in Ethiopia last year.

By cooperating with Ethiopian hospitals, the two sides have offered remote consultations for patients since last August.

Additionally, some Ethiopian doctors are able to receive training from the Henan Provincial People's Hospital.

At the Belt and Road Initiative meeting for cooperation on health, held last August in Beijing, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University and Zambian hospitals gave a live demonstration of its telemedicine consultation system.

The system was praised by Michel Sidibe, executive director of the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS.

Currently, four hospitals in Zambia have joined the remote consultation network.