Chongqing - As China expands its visa-free policies, more foreigners are coming to the country not only for tourism and shopping, but also for medical treatment.
One recent case at Haifu Hospital in Chongqing involved a patient from Luxembourg who traveled for about 24 hours to undergo treatment for a uterine fibroid using Haifu Knife, or high-intensity focused ultrasound, a non-invasive technology developed in China.
The patient, identified as Miss C (a pseudonym), said she chose Chongqing because the technique originated there. “Because I knew the technique originated in China,” she said. “If China created this technique, then the doctors here must have the most knowledge and experience. That is why I chose Chongqing.”
Miss C said some doctors in Europe had proposed a hysterectomy, or the removal of the uterus, as a solution. She did not accept that option. Instead, she searched for alternatives and eventually traveled to Chongqing.
"In Europe, some doctors told me, 'You are over 40. We will not look for another solution," she said. "But here, I feel doctors still see the uterus as important. It is not only for having babies."
Ma Rong, a gynecologist at Haifu Hospital, said uterine fibroids can cause heavy menstrual bleeding, painful menstruation, and sometimes infertility.
Ma explained that focused ultrasound works by concentrating ultrasound waves on a targeted point inside the body, in a way similar to sunlight passing through a magnifying glass. The temperature at that point rises above 65 degrees Celsius, causing coagulative necrosis and ablating the lesion.
Its main advantage, Ma said, is that it treats tissue from outside the body without open surgery. "There is no visible wound, and normal uterine tissue can be preserved as much as possible," she said. Miss C said she felt well the day after the procedure and did not need painkillers.
Xiong Yu, executive vice president of Haifu Hospital, said the hospital has treated more than 100 international patients from 35 countries and regions with focused ultrasound. She said Chongqing is the birthplace of Haifu Knife technology, and that equipment made by Chongqing Haifu Medical Technology has been exported to 37 countries and regions, benefiting 300,000 patients.
(Sun Wangpeng, as an intern, also contributed to this report.)