Executive Summary
On May 24, the City of Hope Cancer Center International Patient Service Offices were officially inaugurated at Guangzhou United Family Hospital and Shenzhen New Frontier United Family Hospital. As the first international patient service offices established by the institution in Greater China, this move not only provides a gateway for patients with complex tumors to access cutting-edge global treatments but also marks Guangzhou’s deeper integration into the global medical innovation network.
Guangzhou’s Strength: An International Medical Gateway
Why did one of the world’s top cancer centers choose Guangzhou? The answer lies in the city’s robust medical infrastructure and its status as a global medical hub.
During the opening ceremony, Li Tiegang, Deputy Director of the Guangzhou Municipal Health Commission, shared compelling data:
Guangzhou currently hosts 7,582 medical and health institutions.
Total outpatient volume reached 194 million last year, with nearly half coming from outside the city, including the Greater Bay Area (GBA) and Southeast Asia.
Guangzhou ranks first globally in the “Science and Technology Value” of oncology.
“Guangzhou’s international medical services—including standards, processes, and safety—are fully aligned with international benchmarks,” said Li. He emphasized that 17 of the first 25 international medical pilot units in Guangdong are located in Guangzhou to meet the diverse needs of global patients.
Complementarity over Competition: UFH’s Localized International Practice
In this city-level collaboration, United Family Healthcare (UFH) serves as an indispensable bridge. Established in 1997, UFH has been a pioneer in bringing international medical standards to China.
Dr. Kelly Xia, Chief Medical Officer of New Frontier Health, stated:
“As medical integration in the GBA deepens, the demand for multidisciplinary oncology services is growing. Our partnership with City of Hope aims to integrate global cutting-edge oncology experience with local Chinese practice through an open collaboration model.”
Notably, this collaboration is designed to complement rather than compete with local top-tier public hospitals like Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center. UFH shares its experience in international service processes while ensuring all cross-border medical data transfers comply with Chinese legal frameworks and JCI international standards.
City of Hope: Bringing Research to the Frontline
As a world-renowned cancer research and treatment institution, City of Hope is a leader in bone marrow transplantation, immunotherapy, and transforming research into clinical practice.
Greg Mascavage, Senior Vice President of Innovation and Global Development at City of Hope, noted:
“This partnership is not just about connecting medical resources; it’s about the deep synergy of clinical experience, research capabilities, and talent cultivation. Through multidisciplinary discussions, physician exchanges, and research collaboration, we hope to create more possibilities for patients.”
From “Patients Traveling” to “Experts Crossing Borders”
The new International Patient Service Office offers a “Guangzhou Solution” for cross-border healthcare, featuring:
Joint Case Management: Multidisciplinary teams from both institutions collaborate on a single patient.
Remote Assessments: Remote pathology and imaging evaluations.
Clinical Research Support: Helping patients access information on global innovative drugs and clinical trials.
Isaac Zhang, Executive Director of Guangzhou United Family Hospital, explained that traditional cross-border medical care often results in “fragmented” information.
“Under our joint management model, patients stay with their familiar local team while receiving international expertise. For a patient with multiple myeloma in Guangzhou, the cost of this model is approximately one-tenth of the cost of traveling to the US independently, while significantly saving time and communication costs.”
Future Outlook
The simultaneous launch in Guangzhou and Shenzhen marks a strategic milestone for City of Hope in Greater China. Moving forward, both parties will continue to explore new models of international medical cooperation, ensuring that high-quality medical resources and innovative achievements benefit more patients in the Greater Bay Area.
