Summary of Key Points
There is a growing trend of Hong Kong residents seeking medical treatment in mainland cities, particularly those within the Greater Bay Area such as Shenzhen, with a significant proportion being cancer patients. Taking Shenzhen Xinfeng United Family Hospital as an example, 75%-80% of its cancer patients come from Hong Kong. The main reasons for this include: significantly lower drug prices on the mainland compared to Hong Kong, faster approval and greater accessibility of innovative drugs, more efficient medical services (no need to wait in long queues), supportive policies from the Greater Bay Area (such as the pilot elderly medical voucher program), and the wealth of clinical experience among mainland doctors.
Detailed Analysis
1. Price Differences are a Major Attraction: The Mainland as a "Low-Cost Haven" for Cancer Drugs
While public healthcare in Hong Kong provides free treatment for certain basic medications, new, innovative drugs, off-label uses, and the latest therapies are often not covered by subsidies, requiring patients to pay out of pocket. Private hospitals in Hong Kong also charge high prices for both medicines and treatments. In contrast, on the mainland, "national centralized procurement" (where the government organizes bulk purchases for hospitals, leading to lower drug prices) and medical insurance negotiations have significantly reduced costs:
- For lung cancer targeted drugs like gefitinib and osimertinib, the prices on the mainland are less than 20% of those in Hong Kong.
- The price of the immunotherapy drug Kymriya is more than 60% lower on the mainland.
Even with commercial insurance, the coverage in Hong Kong is limited, making cost savings a primary motivation for many patients to seek treatment on the mainland.
2. Faster Approval of Innovative Drugs: Hong Kong Patients Can Access the Latest Therapies
The approval process for innovative drugs has accelerated significantly on the mainland, with 76 new drugs approved in 2025 (compared to only 48 in 2024), and 80% of these are domestically developed. Many new drugs are first launched on the mainland before being approved in Hong Kong. For example, the precision cancer drug lenvatinib (Rancon) was approved in Shenzhen Xinfeng United Family Hospital within half a month and is used for the second-line treatment of nasopharyngeal cancer. In Hong Kong, patients with nasopharyngeal cancer have limited options beyond chemotherapy, leading many to travel to the mainland for this new treatment.
Although medical guidelines are consistent across both regions, the difference in drug accessibility forces Hong Kong patients to seek treatment on the mainland.
3. More Efficient Medical Experience: No Queuing + Experienced Doctors
Waiting times in public hospitals in Hong Kong can be very long, especially for cancer treatments, which may take several months. In contrast, mainland hospitals offer faster appointments and shorter waiting periods. Additionally:
- Mainland doctors handle a larger volume of cases with more complex procedures, honing their skills through practical experience.
- Cities like Shenzhen have a Cantonese-speaking population, making communication easier for Hong Kong patients who are familiar with the local medical culture.
- The elderly medical voucher program in Hong Kong can be used in mainland cities within the Greater Bay Area, facilitating access to healthcare.
4. Greater Bay Area Policies and Flexible Hospital Procedures: Streamlining Medical Travel
Policies such as the elderly medical voucher program have lowered the barriers for Hong Kong residents to seek treatment on the mainland. Private hospitals like Shenzhen Xinfeng United Family also have more flexible processes for introducing new drugs. After evaluation by clinical pharmacists, the proposals are quickly reviewed by the pharmacy committee, allowing for swift procurement. For instance, the approval and implementation of lenvatinib were expedited due to streamlined procedures.
These factors combined make seeking medical treatment on the mainland a preferred option for Hong Kong residents, reflecting the practical benefits of medical integration within the Greater Bay Area.