What Boao Lecheng is — and what it is not
Boao Lecheng is a government medical pilot zone in Hainan, China — not a single hospital, not a brand, and not a guarantee. It contains 40+ medical institutions, a list of licensed drugs and devices, and a regulated pathway for selected biomedical new technologies. Some treatments there are approved; some are clinical research; some are not legal. You still have to verify the hospital, the doctor, the approval status, and the price.
Boao in numbers — with dates
These numbers describe a real, regulated ecosystem. They do not mean every clinic or every “stem cell” offer is legitimate.
What is actually approved — three different statuses
| Status | What it means | Can it be charged? |
|---|---|---|
| NMPA-approved drug/device | Approved for the Chinese market | Yes, under normal rules |
| Boao clinical translation | Approved for use in the pilot zone under special rules | Yes, with filed price; usually self-pay |
| Clinical research | A study with ethics approval and informed consent | No — research cannot charge for the investigational treatment |
| Unapproved paid treatment | Not approved | Illegal |
There are six legal routes for cell therapy in China — approved cell drugs, IND trials, IIT research, Boao Lecheng, the Greater Bay Area connect scheme, and the Beidaihe zone. Boao is one of them, not the only one. If someone says “clinical research” but asks you to pay for the investigational treatment, stop.
What to verify before you pay
Hospital
Official name, licence, department, international reception status.
Doctor
Registration, specialty, and whether the doctor will be present.
Approval
NMPA-approved, clinical translation, or research — and whether charging is allowed.
Price
Written itemised quote, payment route, and what is excluded.
For cell or gene therapies, also ask: where is the product prepared? who releases the batch? can it be traced (“one person, one code; one batch, one code”)? Under China’s 818 framework, outsourcing preparation does not transfer the hospital’s responsibility.
FAQ
Is Boao Lecheng a hospital?
No. It is a pilot zone with 40+ institutions. “Boao Lecheng” is not a hospital name.
Can foreigners use Boao hospitals?
Yes, selected hospitals accept international patients. English services, insurance direct billing, and international reception vary by institution; confirm before booking.
Is everything in Boao approved?
No. There are three statuses: NMPA-approved, Boao clinical translation, and clinical research. Paid unapproved treatment is illegal.
Can I get unapproved drugs in Boao?
Only clinically needed products, at designated hospitals, after doctor assessment and official approval. You cannot buy them online, have them mailed, or take them out of the zone without approval.
Do I need a visa?
Many nationalities can use Hainan’s 30-day visa-free entry for medical treatment; longer treatment or mainland travel needs S1/S2. We help you check the route.
Can you guarantee a hospital or a visa?
No. We verify and coordinate; the hospital decides clinical acceptance, the embassy/consulate decides the visa, and border inspection decides entry.
Transcript — 90 seconds, with sources
Narration as spoken. Figures dated; every one is checkable.
Boao Lecheng is not a hospital.
It is a government pilot zone on Hainan. One regulated area, more than forty medical institutions, and a single purpose: to let licensed drugs and devices reach patients in China before national approval.
As of October 2026: more than six hundred and twenty licensed drugs, devices and special foods. Fifty-eight approved biomedical technology projects. Twelve first-batch reception institutions.
But here is what most adverts leave out. “Available in Boao” can mean three different things: approved for a stated indication; a filed clinical-translation project; or clinical research, which by law cannot charge you for the drug.
Same sentence. Three legal statuses.
So before you pay anyone, four things get checked: the hospital, the doctor, the approval status, and the written price.
Ten institutions in our network. A network, not a ranking — depth in a few, not a claim of national coverage.
We are not a hospital. Not a doctor. Not an insurer. We take no commission from any hospital. Verify first.
Where the numbers come from
| Figure | Meaning | Dated | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 40+ | Medical institutions in the zone | Oct 2026 | Xinhua / Economic Information Daily, 29 Oct 2026 |
| 620+ | Licensed drugs, devices and special foods | Oct 2026 | Same report — “more than 620 kinds” |
| 58 | Approved biomedical technology projects | Jul 2026 | Lecheng authority list, reported 27 Jul 2026 |
| 12 | First-batch reception institutions | May 2026 | Lecheng international medical tourism service centre launch, 29 May 2026 |
| 10 | Institutions in our network | Current | Hospital directory |
Note on wording: 620+ counts special foods as well as drugs and devices, so it is not “620 drugs”. 58 is a count of approved projects, not of therapies. 12 is a list of reception institutions, not of international hospitals.
Not sure whether Boao is the right route?
We will check your case, the hospital, the approval status, and the written price before you travel.