Foreign nationals are entitled to the same treatment as Chinese when they apply for medical benefits or receive medical treatment, according to an official of the Ministry of Health in referring to World Trade Organization commitments made by China.
The medical commitments declare no restrictions for foreign nationals in gaining access to China's medical market and no restrictive regulations for foreign nationals who receive medical treatments.
The Ministry of Health announced medical departments will abide by the principle of national treatment and apply the same strict standards for staff members, facilities, and techniques, etc. to foreign medical institutions before they are permitted to enter China's medical market.
The WTO commitment on medical services does not include foreign professional medical administrators. However, medical administrators will have a chance to enter China's medical management and practices once the field totally opens to the outside world. Moreover, relative policies will be gradually put in place to ascertain the qualifications and capabilities of foreign nationals who provide medical services in China.
(北京娱乐信报[stardaily.com.cn] January 28, 2002, translated for china.org.cn by Unisumoon)
