Qingdao to host international healthcare forum

A total of 100 healthcare programs are expected to be unveiled at the upcoming Global Health Forum in Qingdao, Shandong province.

Organizers said Wednesday that these programs may help local health sectors find new avenues for growth.

"The programs, selected from around the world by Global Health Forum's organizing committee, have market potential and many of them have developed clinical stages," said Luo Xielong, executive director of the forum's organizing committee.

The Global Health Forum of the Boao Forum for Asia, themed Health Beyond Health, will be held from June 10-12.

Approved by the State Council and organized by the Boao Forum for Asia, the event will be the highest level healthcare event to date in China, with more than 1,000 participants set to take part.

These participants will include national leaders, senior officials from the World Health Organization, and ministers of state-level health authorities.

Luo said that China's healthcare market is huge, and enterprises have significant advantages in high-manufacturing abilities, funding, and support from government policies.

He said however that innovation needs to be increased.

According to Luo China's healthcare market was valued at 4 trillion yuan ($595 billion) in 2015, and that figure is expected to reach 8 and 16 trillion respectively in 2020 and 2030.

"Local enterprises and investors will have opportunities of face-to-face exchange with scientists and program owners during the three-day forum and there is great potential for win-win partnerships," Luo said Wednesday on the sidelines of an innovation project road show in Qingdao.

A warm-up event for the upcoming forum, the road show introduced more than 70 programs from the United States, Europe and Japan.

The event was held primarily for local enterprises and investors from Qingdao and surrounding areas.