AmCham China 2024 Healthcare Delegation Visits

The Healthcare Industry Group of AmCham China comprises over 140 member companies, spanning four major sectors: biopharmaceuticals, medical devices, healthcare services, and others (including medical schools and healthcare consulting firms). The group aims to deepen exchanges between the United States and China in the healthcare sector and leverage the strengths of the healthcare industry to promote long-term cooperation in areas such as public health, policy research, and talent training. This contributes to the shared goal of the US and Chinese governments to further improve the accessibility of healthcare services.

Organizing delegation visits for foreign-invested pharmaceutical companies in China has long been one of the group’s key initiatives. In 2024, the Healthcare Industry Group successfully conducted 12 delegation visits, including Tianjin and Shanghai. Among these, we held high-level meetings with Anhui, Sichuan, Jiangxi, Henan, Jilin, and Jiangsu provincial governments.

Tianjin, March 19

On March 19, an AmCham China Healthcare Industry Group delegation including member company representatives visited Tianjin. During the visit, the delegation had in-depth discussions with the Tianjin Healthcare Security Administration and the Tianjin Health Commission on centralized volume-based procurement of drugs, drug supply security, and “dual channel” policy. Recognizing the different challenges faced by companies regarding policies, the Tianjin Investment Promotion Bureau, in collaboration with the AmCham China, introduced a one-on-one government-enterprise dialogue mechanism following the forum.

Also on the trip, the delegation toured the Tianjin Port Free Trade Zone to explore its healthcare industry development, and supportive policies. These included a policy allowing the clinical application of urgently needed drugs – approved by the National Medical Products Administration but not yet listed in China – in tertiary hospitals within the Tianjin Pilot Free Trade Zone. The visit also highlighted efforts to promote healthcare cooperation under the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei coordinated development framework.

Anhui, March 27 – 29

From March 27 to 29, an AmCham China Healthcare Industry Group delegation visited Anhui Province. The group first visited Wuhu City, where they met with Deputy Mayor Ding Baijing.

Leadership from the Anhui Health Commission and the Provincial Healthcare Security Administration attended the Healthcare Policy Exchange Forum co-hosted by AmCham China and the Anhui CCPIT. The discussion focused on promoting pharmaceutical investment and cooperation by multinational companies in Anhui, enhancing the exchange and sharing of medical technology, optimizing medical insurance policies, and improving healthcare services. The delegation then visited biomedical industry operations in the Xinzhan and Yaohai districts of Hefei, including visits to the Hefei BOE Hospital, Shangrong Health Industry Park, and Youth Pastoral.

On March 29, Anhui Deputy Governor Shan Xiangqian met with AmCham China Chair Sean Stein. Shan expressed the hope that AmCham China would continue to act as a bridge, encouraging member companies to visit and invest in Anhui. He pledged that Anhui would continue to foster a world-class, market-oriented business climate governed by a sound legal framework and improving services availability for global enterprises. Stein acknowledged Anhui’s excellent business environment and stated that the AmCham China, along with its member companies, would strengthen their focus on Anhui and promote cooperation in various fields such as biomedicine to better serve both China and the global market.

Shanghai, April 9 -10

From April 9 to 10, an AmCham China led delegation visited the Shanghai Municipal Healthcare Security Administration and the Shanghai Municipal Health Commission. Leaders and relevant department heads from the Healthcare Security Administration shared updates on the implementation and plans of the “28 Measures” to support the development of innovative drugs and medical devices. Officials from the Health Commission provided interpretations of recently released policies elated to chronic disease management.

Sichuan, May 30 – 31

On May 30, AmCham China and the Sichuan CCPIT co-hosted the US-China Healthcare Cooperation Dialogue. Representatives from the Sichuan Healthcare Security Administration, the Provincial Health Commission, and the special service team for foreign enterprises of Sichuan CCPIT attended the meeting to address questions from participating companies. The delegation also visited Chengdu Medical City aiming to further strengthen cooperation and investment by foreign healthcare enterprises in Sichuan.

Hubei, June 3 – 4

On June 3 and 4, an AmCham China Healthcare Industry delegation visited the Hubei Healthcare Security Administration and the Hubei Health Commission. The delegation engaged in discussions on core issues and the key demands of enterprises. They also visited Jointown Health City and Biolake to strengthen business connections with local companies.

Jiangxi, June 18

On June 18, the Jiangxi CCPIT hosted the ‘Business Gathering in Jiangxi 2024 – AmCham Visits Jiangxi: Pharmaceutical Industry Cooperation & Policy Exchange Conference’ in Nanchang. AmCham China, along with a group of member companies from the healthcare sector, attended the meeting. The event was presided over by Zhao Xiangyang, Vice President of Jiangxi CCPIT, who also delivered a speech. Representatives from the Jiangxi Provincial Department of Commerce, the Provincial Health Commission, the Provincial Healthcare Security Administration, the Provincial Taxation Bureau, and the Nanchang High-Tech Industrial Development Zone also participated.

In the afternoon, Jiangxi Party Secretary Yin Hong met with the delegation led by AmCham China President Michael Hart in Nanchang. They witnessed the signing of a trade and investment cooperation framework agreement between the Jiangxi CCPIT and AmCham China. Jiangxi Party Standing Committee Member and Secretary-General Chen Min, and Jiangxi Vice Governor Wan Guangming were also present.

Beijing, June 27

On June 27, Deputy Director Du Xin of the Beijing Municipal Healthcare Security Administration visited AmCham China’s Beijing office for a meeting on medical insurance policy. Discussions centered on the ‘Several Measures to Support High-Quality Development of Innovative Pharmaceuticals in Beijing (2024) (Draft for Comments),’ issued by nine departments including the Beijing Healthcare Security Administration. Other key topics included the dual-channel policy for drugs and the centralized volume-based procurement of drugs. Leadership from the Pharmaceutical Service Management Department, Drug Price and Tendering Department, Centralized Procurement Service Center, Medical Insurance Center, and Welfare Department of the Beijing Healthcare Security Administration were in attendance.

Fujian, July 18

On July 18, the Roundtable Meeting with Fujian Provincial Healthcare Security Administration and Provincial Health Commission for Multinational Medical Companies was held in Fuzhou, co-hosted by the Fujian Provincial Department of Commerce and AmCham China, and organized by the Fujian Medical Equipment Chamber of Commerce. Representatives from the Fujian Provincial Department of Commerce, the Fujian Healthcare Security Administration, AmCham China, Xiamen Bio Bay, the Fujian Medical Equipment Chamber of Commerce, the Provincial Pharmaceutical Group, and ten multinational medical companies attended the conference. During the meeting, representatives from multinational medical companies introduced their business development and future plans in China, while the Fujian Healthcare Security Administration provided on overview on their pharmaceutical procurement policies. Attendees also exchanged views on policy frameworks and potential project cooperation.

Henan, March 13 & September 25

AmCham China visited Henan twice in 2024. On March 13, Zhang Qingqing, Director of the Pharmaceutical Pricing and Tendering Service Center of the Henan Healthcare Security Administration, along with other leaders, welcomed an AmCham China Healthcare delegation and held a series of discussions.

Then, on September 25, AmCham China President Michael Hart led a delegation consisting of AmCham China staff and member company representatives to the ‘Roundtable Meeting on Modern Medicine Industry’, co-hosted by the Henan Provincial Department of Commerce and the Zhengzhou Airport Economy Zone. During the subsequent policy exchange session, representatives from AmCham China member companies participated in in-depth discussions with the Henan Healthcare Security Administration, the Henan Health Commission, and the Henan Drug Administration on topics, such as biomedical innovation and centralized drug procurement. The meeting was attended by Hua Yawei, Counselor of the Henan Provincial Government; Guo Peng, Deputy Director of the Administrative Committee of the Zhengzhou Airport Economy Zone; and Sun Jinglin, Deputy Director of the Henan Provincial Department of Commerce.

Jilin, October 25

On October 25, AmCham China Vice President Claire Ma led a delegation to meet with Jilin Vice Governor Yang Andi. The meeting was also attended by Xu Caishan, Deputy Secretary-General of the Jilin Provincial Government, as well as leadership from the Provincial Department of Commerce, Foreign Affairs Office, Health Commission, and Healthcare Security Administration. The delegation also visited Changchun Bio-Pharmaceutical City and the Changchun High-Tech Industrial Development Zone for discussions on the biomedical industry development.

Jiangsu, December 9

On December 9, AmCham China President Michael Hart led a delegation of member companies to participate in a healthcare policy dialogue organized by the Jiangsu Province Department of Commerce. During the meeting, representatives from AmCham China member companies engaged in in-depth discussions with the Jiangsu Province Healthcare Security Administration, the Jiangsu Medical Product Administration, and the Jiangsu Health Commission. Topics of interest included supportive policies for innovative drugs and medical devices, as well as the centralized procurement of drugs.

During the trip, Hart also met with Fang Wei, Vice Governor of Jiangsu Province. Leaders of the Jiangsu Department of Commerce and the Jiangsu Foreign Affairs Office were also in attendance at the meeting.

The following day, AmCham China Vice President Claire Ma led a delegation of member companies to visit Suzhou and participated in a forum hosted by the Suzhou Industrial Park Investment Promotion Bureau. They discussed expanding investment and cooperation in the park and addressed issues and concerns from business operations. After the forum, the delegation toured the Suzhou Industrial Park Exhibition Hall and the Biosparc.

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