Examination and Approval Authority Adjusted for Sino-Foreign Cooperative and Sino-Foreign Joint Venture Medical Institutions

On February 9, 2011, the Ministry of Health of the P.R.C. issued and made effective the Circular on the Adjustment of Examination and Approval Authority for Sino-Foreign Cooperative and Sino-Foreign Joint Venture Medical Institutions. Whereas previously the establishment of such medical institutions must first receive approval from the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Commerce, both ministries have delegated their examination and approval authority to the provincial level administrative department of health, thus simplifying the application procedure for establishing Sino-foreign cooperative and Sino-foreign joint venture medical institutions. This adjustment is expected to further open up China’s medical sector to foreign investment.