Cancer Care in China: Oncology Centres, MDT & Planning (2026)
Include diagnosticul și tratamentul cancerului, prin chirurgie, chimioterapie, radioterapie și terapii țintite sau imune în spitale specializate în oncologie. Pacienții internaționali caută adesea a doua opinie, screening structurat ori protocoale specifice, care trebuie coordonate cu medicii lor de acasă.
Treatments in this specialty
Publicat de CareAtlas · Politică editorială
Mainland China has very large cancer hospitals, a national cancer plan built around multidisciplinary team (MDT) reviews[2], and a few technologies that are hard to reach elsewhere, such as combined proton and carbon-ion therapy in Shanghai[4]. For most international patients, the best use is a well-prepared second opinion, a defined operation or radiotherapy course, or access to a specific drug or device. Long courses of treatment far from home are risky. Continuity matters more than any single hospital.
How oncology is organised
Cancer care happens in two kinds of places:
- 肿瘤医院 (cancer hospitals), such as the Cancer Hospital of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences in Beijing or provincial cancer hospitals, organised around tumour sites.
- 肿瘤科 (oncology departments) inside general university hospitals, where surgery is done by the relevant surgical department (thoracic, gastrointestinal, breast and so on).
Department names you will see:
| Chinese | English | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 肿瘤内科 | Medical oncology | Chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy |
| 放疗科 / 放射治疗科 | Radiation oncology | Radiotherapy, stereotactic treatment |
| 胸外科 | Thoracic surgery | Lung and oesophageal cancer surgery |
| 胃肠外科 / 结直肠外科 | GI / colorectal surgery | Stomach, bowel cancer |
| 肝胆外科 | Hepatobiliary surgery | Liver, bile duct, pancreas |
| 乳腺外科 | Breast surgery | Breast cancer |
| 妇科肿瘤科 | Gynaecological oncology | Ovarian, cervical, uterine cancer |
| 头颈外科 | Head & neck surgery | Thyroid, throat, mouth |
| 血液科 | Haematology | Leukaemia, lymphoma, myeloma |
| 病理科 | Pathology | Biopsy review, molecular testing |
| 介入科 | Interventional radiology | Ablation, embolisation |
| 多学科会诊 (MDT) | Multidisciplinary clinic | Joint case review |
Common cancers and what foreigners seek
Lung, liver, stomach, colorectal and oesophageal cancers cause about two-thirds of China's cancer deaths, according to the National Cancer Center's 2022 estimates[6]. Chinese hospitals therefore have deep experience with these tumours, especially gastric, oesophageal and liver cancer.
International patients typically ask for:
- A second opinion and MDT review — see cancer second opinion.
- A specific operation (for example, minimally invasive lung or stomach surgery).
- Particle therapy (proton or carbon-ion) when an MDT agrees it is indicated.
- Access to drugs or devices approved abroad but not at home, or vice versa — see below.
- Screening — see cancer screening.
National designations
The NHC designated the Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, as the 国家癌症中心 (National Cancer Center)[1]. China's cancer-control plan for 2023–2030 tells hospitals to keep expanding MDT care, build disease-specific centres and extend capacity through telemedicine, alongside national and regional cancer centres and single-disease quality control[2].
The NHC's current clinical-specialty plan makes comprehensive treatment of lung, digestive and gynaecological cancers a core area for 国家临床重点专科 funding, and names immunotherapy, targeted therapy and precision radiotherapy as key technologies[3]. Departments that pass review are "认定为国家临床重点专科并挂牌"[3].
Technology and resources
- Particle therapy. The Shanghai Proton and Heavy Ion Center, affiliated with Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, describes itself as China's first medical institution with both proton and heavy-ion therapy; suitability is decided by MDT review[4].
- Drugs. China's medical-insurance drug list added 744 drugs between 2018 and 2023 through annual negotiations[7]; national policy calls for faster registration of foreign anticancer drugs[2].
- Boao Lecheng. In the Hainan Boao Lecheng International Medical Tourism Pilot Zone, licensed institutions may use imported drugs and devices not yet approved in mainland China, and real-world data from the zone has supported later approvals[5]. See Hainan Boao Lecheng.
- Molecular pathology and PET-CT are standard at large cancer hospitals.
Strong cities
- Beijing — home of the National Cancer Center[1]. See Beijing.
- Shanghai — the largest number of oncology providers in our directory and the proton and heavy-ion centre[4]. See Shanghai.
- Guangzhou — major university cancer centres. See Guangzhou.
- Boao Lecheng — special drug and device access[5]. See Boao.
Browse hospitals with oncology.
Two routes and price tiers
Ordinary outpatient clinic. You can register with a passport and see an oncologist at local prices; basic medical services follow government-guided prices that apply to everyone[8]. But cancer care involves many tests, admissions and deposits, all in Chinese, and expert appointments are hard to get. Without a Chinese-speaking companion this route is difficult. See your first hospital visit without a Chinese ID.
International department or VIP (特需) clinic. Coordinators who organise MDT reviews, English summaries and appointments; fees are set by the hospital and are much higher. As one published example, China-Japan Friendship Hospital lists ¥500 for a chief-physician consultation in its international department, against ¥50 for an ordinary attending-physician appointment[9]. Drugs and procedures are usually charged per item on top. See international departments explained.
| Tier | Best for | Cost driver |
|---|---|---|
| Ordinary clinic | Patients with Chinese support and time | Tests and drugs; low consultation fees |
| International / VIP | Second opinion, MDT, coordinated care | Consultation and coordination fees, deposits |
| Boao Lecheng institutions | Specific imported drugs/devices | Drug or device price, often high |
China's public medical insurance does not cover foreign visitors; check your own insurance first — see insurance for treatment abroad.
Preparing your records
Good records are essential:
- Pathology: the report and, if possible, the original slides or blocks for re-review (ask your hospital how to release them).
- Molecular results (EGFR, ALK, HER2, MSI, PD-L1 and so on).
- Imaging as DICOM files (CT, MRI, PET-CT), with reports.
- Treatment history: drugs, doses, dates, radiotherapy plans and side effects.
- A one-page summary of your question. The inquiry letter tool drafts it in English and Chinese.
Questions to ask
- Will my case be discussed at an MDT, and which specialists attend?
- Do you need to re-review my pathology slides?
- What do you recommend, and how does it differ from my current plan?
- If I am treated here, how many weeks must I stay, and who manages side effects after I leave?
- Is this drug or device approved in my country? Can my doctors continue it?
- Can I have a written summary and treatment record in English?
Risks and follow-up
- Continuity. Who gives each cycle, who monitors toxicity and who handles complications breaks easily across borders[2]. Agree the hand-off before you start.
- Hope-selling. Be cautious about clinics promising cures or "experimental" therapies outside regulated trials or the Boao framework.
- Advanced is not always better. Particle therapy, for example, has specific indications[4].
- Costs escalate with deposits and per-item billing; ask for estimates in writing.
- See risks and complications and medical records and follow-up.
Next steps
- Browse hospitals with oncology and read cancer second opinion.
- Prepare a bilingual case summary with the inquiry letter tool.
- Plan consultations and logistics with the AI planner.
Întrebări frecvente
Can I get a cancer second opinion in China without travelling?
Sometimes. Many large hospitals offer remote or record-based consultations, especially through international departments. You will still need complete pathology, imaging and treatment records, ideally with Chinese translations.
What is an MDT in a Chinese cancer hospital?
MDT (多学科会诊) is a multidisciplinary review where surgeons, medical and radiation oncologists, radiologists and pathologists discuss a case together. China's national cancer plan directs hospitals to keep expanding this model.
Which is China's national cancer centre?
The National Health Commission designated the Cancer Hospital of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences in Beijing as the National Cancer Center (国家癌症中心).
Can I get cancer drugs in China that are not approved in my country, or vice versa?
Drugs approved abroad but not yet in mainland China may be available in the Hainan Boao Lecheng pilot zone under a special policy. Availability and cost vary; check with the treating hospital before travelling.
Should I have all my cancer treatment in China?
Usually not. Multi-cycle chemotherapy, immunotherapy or radiotherapy needs close monitoring and quick access to care for side effects. Many patients use China for a second opinion, a specific operation or a defined radiotherapy course, and continue care at home.
Referințe (9)
- [1]最新发布：八大国家医学中心名单公布，13家大三甲医院入选！（含国卫医函〔2020〕482号全文） — InnoMD (accesat 2026-10-19)↩
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- [4]上海市质子重离子医院（复旦大学附属肿瘤医院质子重离子中心） — Shanghai Proton and Heavy Ion Center (accesat 2026-10-17)↩
- [5]3款乐城真实世界试点产品接连获批上市 — Hainan Provincial Government (accesat 2026-10-17)↩
- [6]Cancer incidence and mortality in China, 2022 — Journal of the National Cancer Center (accesat 2026-10-17)↩
- [7]2023年全国医疗保障事业发展统计公报 — National Healthcare Security Administration (accesat 2026-10-12)↩
- [8]关于印发推进医疗服务价格改革意见的通知（发改价格〔2016〕1431号） — National Development and Reform Commission and three other departments (accesat 2026-10-13)↩
- [9]中日友好医院出诊信息（医事服务费） — China-Japan Friendship Hospital (accesat 2026-10-13)↩