The Shanghai Kanglian Hospital, a 70-million-yuan (US$9.31 million) investment intended for wealthy patients and expatriates, will open for business in Honqiao on Monday.

Based on a Singaporean model, the hospital will have direct links with major medical facilities in Singapore, Japan and the United States and will feature advanced hospital management systems.

"Following the Singaporean format, we don't charge patient registration fee. The cost for out-patient treatments is in line with the patient's disease and doctor's time and speciality, "said Dr Zhang Yajun, the hospital's vice president. "Our cardiology department will work with the Singapore Heart Stroke and Cancer Center and the oncology department is linked to the West Clinic in the US."

"The overseas clinics and hospitals will send experts to work in our hospital to make this a truly comprehensive international hospital."

As well as clinical treatment, the hospital will also be involved in research and training. It is the city's first joint venture hospital providing professional training to Chinese doctors.

(Shanghai Daily October 19, 2007)