Healthcare Industry Group Delegation Visits Tianjin, AmCham China, Mar. 22, 2024.
Driven by a common objective to improve Tianjin’s foreign investment climate and advance healthcare services in the city, AmCham China’s Healthcare Industry Group, in collaboration with the Tianjin Investment Promotion Bureau, organized a delegation visit on March 19, 2024. The delegation comprised representatives from 26 multinational healthcare companies, including Boston Scientific, Stryker, Edwards Lifesciences, Amgen, Johnson & Johnson, Alcon, AbbVie, Abbott, Medtronic, and others, for business inspections and policy discussions.
Exploratory Visit and Exchange at Tianjin Port Free Trade Zone
Edward Wang, Director of the AmCham China Healthcare Industry Group, along with representatives from various companies, visited the Tianjin Port Free Trade Zone (Tianjin Port FTZ) to gain insights into its founding history, the development of the healthcare industry, and supportive policies. During a meeting between the AmCham China Healthcare Working Group and the FTZ, leaders from the FTZ’s Bureau of Commerce, Investment Promotion Bureau, Social Development Bureau, and Free Trade Work Bureau provided detailed explanations of the medical policies within the FTZ. These included specifics about implementing policies that support the clinical use of urgently needed medications approved by the National Medical Products Administration but not yet available in mainland China. These policies facilitate clinical applications in Level III hospitals within the Tianjin Free Trade Zone, alongside medical cooperation under the coordinated development of Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei. Company representatives expressed their appreciation for the insights gained during the business inspection and showed willingness to explore cooperation opportunities with the Tianjin Port FTZ.
Healthcare Policy Roundtable Meeting and “One-on-One” Closed-Door Meetings:
The Healthcare Industry Group and the Tianjin Investment Promotion Bureau jointly organized a Healthcare Policy Roundtable Meeting. The Tianjin Healthcare Security Administration and the Tianjin Health Commission were invited to attend. Government and enterprise representatives engaged in professional and productive discussions on topics such as volume-based procurement, universal medical insurance, drug supply security, and the “Dual-Channel” policy.
Recognizing the diverse issues faced by companies in policy matters, the Tianjin Investment Promotion Bureau introduced a “one-on-one” business dialogue mechanism for the first time after the roundtable meeting. Nine companies participated in closed-door meetings, communicating separately with the Tianjin Investment Promotion Bureau and related government departments. These meetings demonstrated the proactive service orientation of the Tianjin municipal government, its pragmatic and efficient problem-solving attitude, and its determination to provide comprehensive service guarantees for enterprises. Meanwhile, AmCham China and its member companies pledged unwavering support for the Tianjin municipal government’s efforts to optimize the foreign investment environment and attract foreign investment.