Shanghai Daily News

A Singapore medical delegation came to Shanghai this week with hopes of cashing in on the healthcare needs of the city's upscale residents.

In it first foray into China's biggest metropolis, the government-run  Singapore Medical is reaching out to local organizations whose members earn high incomes and might be interested in traveling abroad for international-level health services.

One of the first stops was an artists' association whose members include well-paid actors and actresses.

Supported by the Singapore Tourism Board, the organization says it can coordinate a full range of services, including hospital arrangements, visa processing, air tickets, hotel bookings and transport in Singapore.

"There are 200,000 international patients visiting Singapore every year, and our goal is to attract up to 1 million by 2012," said Xu Guozhen, a Singapore Medicine official.

Xu said Singapore's medical community is especially skilled at organ transplants from live donors, optical care, stem cell transplants and tumor treatments.

"Though the costs of a physical check, treatment and trip may be two to three times higher than in Shanghai, we are confident that people with high expectations for medical services will pay the price," she added.

Meanwhile, local hospitals don't seem overly worried about the new competition.

"Shanghai already offers the leading medical standards in Asia, and most big hospitals are enhancing their services," said Liu Chunlong of Shanghai Ren'ai Hospital. "It's unnecessary to spend more money for medical treatment in Singapore."