China’s first international hospital accreditation standards implemented in SZ

This aerial photo taken on Aug 13, 2020 shows a view of Shenzhen, South China's Guangdong province. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

Shenzhen implemented China’s first international accreditation recognition standards for hospital quality on Thursday — a move that will lead to international commercial insurance directly covering certified hospitals in the city.

The International Hospital Quality Accreditation Standards (2021 Version), compiled by the Shenzhen Hospital Accreditation Research Center, has also been supported by the International Society for Quality in Health Care, which provides global benchmarks for healthcare standards

The International Hospital Quality Accreditation Standards (2021 Version), compiled by the Shenzhen Hospital Accreditation Research Center, has also been supported by the International Society for Quality in Health Care, which provides global benchmarks for healthcare standards.

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As the hospital-quality evaluation system on the mainland is different from others worldwide, international insurers could not cover patients’ expenses directly. Many domestic medical institutions need to seek contracts with international insurers or get accredited by individual international healthcare assessment providers in order to be recognized.

The standards in Shenzhen provide the hospitals a new channel to obtain international professional recognition. Four local public hospitals, including the University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, have begun the accreditation process.

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The Shenzhen Municipal Government mentioned at a news conference that the standards will be promoted to other cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and even across the country in the future.

grace@chinadailyhk.com