The next boom industry for Australian businesses in China: healthcare

As the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement (ChAFTA) looks set to be ratified later this year, a new report has identified the healthcare sector as one of the key beneficiaries from the agreement.

The report into ‘Australia-China healthcare opportunities’ by the University of Sydney’s China Studies Centre, National Australian Bank and the George Institute for Global Health has identified areas where Australian businesses can capitalise on China’s increasing demand for quality healthcare.

“China is changing its disease profile from that of a developing country, where infectious diseases are much more dominant to that of a developed country in which cancers, heart disease and obesity are much more prevalent. This will have a fundamental impact on healthcare in China,” said Professor Kerry Brown from the University of Sydney's China Studies Centre.

"One important example is China’s addiction to smoking. China is the biggest manufacturer, grower and consumer of tobacco in the world. The health and financial burden this habit has placed on the Chinese healthcare system is only just starting to be realised."

The report identified the major health challenges China will face over the coming decades and identified key business opportunities for Australian healthcare companies.

Director of Australia-China relationships at the George Institute for Global Health, Professor John Knight said Australia’s most successful biomedical companies were looking at China for growth and opportunity.

“China is facing a host of new health challenges, including an ageing population, changing diets, increasing prevalence of obesity and environmental problems,” said Professor Knight.

“The demand for high quality health care is a constant, unlike the boom and bust cycles of many other industries such as the resources sector.”

China and Australia are two countries which differ markedly in size of population and wealth, but Australia stands out as a competitive role model compared to other developed economies such as the United States, which still has significant problems associated with access to and equity of healthcare.

“China is one of the largest markets in the world, and unlocking access to this market will change the landscape for Australian businesses,” said Christine Yates, Executive General Manager at NAB.

“There are new growth prospects on the horizon for Australian health and aged care businesses, with the opportunity to take world-class Australian health industry expertise, education knowledge and capability across China, and into the Asia Pacific region.

“For Australian businesses to succeed they need to understand the unique challenges facing the growing Chinese middle class.”

Australia and China's health partnership

Pharmaceuticals

China is Australia’s second largest market for pharmaceuticals, with exports worth AU$381 million in 2013-14, including vitamins and health products. This is set to grow as ChAFTA stipulates the elimination of tariffs from pharmaceutical products.

Private hospitals

The Chinese government’s decision to build 7,500 public hospitals through the private sector over the next decade creates a significant business opportunity for Australian private hospital operators. ChAFTA allows Australian qualified service providers to wholly acquire and manage hospitals in three municipalities (Beijing, Tianjian and Shanghai) and four provinces (Guangdong, Jiangsu, Fujian, Hainan).

Aged care

In the past aged care institutions have not been very popular in China, however with the rapidly ageing population and the legacy of the one-child policy there is now a strong demand for aged care institutions in the country. ChAFTA permits Australian service suppliers to establish profit-making aged care institutions throughout China. 

Research and development

Australian companies will be permitted to carry out research and development and provide these services through Australian owned subsidiaries based in China.

Traditional Chinese Medicine

Traditional Chinese Medicine is the subject of a separate side letter added to the main ChAFTA agreement. The Australian government commits to exchange information and discuss policies, encourage and support engagement between relevant professional bodies and registration authorities for practitioners, and encourage and support research.

Recommendations for Australian businesses

• ChAFTA presents significant opportunities for Australia-China partnership in pharmaceuticals, health and aged care, hospitals and research and development.
• Businesses should be pragmatic when deciding their locations. The cities of Beijing, Tianjin, and Shanghai, and provinces including Jiangsu, Fujian, Guangdong and Hainan were included in pilot programs for establishing wholly foreign-owned hospitals in 2014; these regions represent the best entry points for Australian businesses looking to get into the Chinese market. Furthermore, the Shanghai Free Trade Zone offers a number of unique incentives for foreign investment in medical technology.
• In order to achieve effective, lasting and mutually beneficial Australia-China partnerships, businesses need to establish pragmatic frameworks for mutual engagement.
• Australian businesses should concentrate on areas of strength. Australia is globally recognised for its strength in health and medical care, particularly in aged care.
• Given ChAFTA specifically supports engagement between professional bodies and practitioners of Traditional Chinese Medicine in both countries on research and development, Australian and Chinese businesses should explore prospects for collaboration in this area.

Fast facts about China’s health challenges

• China’s people now smoke a third of all cigarettes consumed in the world, coming to a staggering 1,711 per capita in 2012.
• In 2012 China set aside 5.4 percent of its GDP for healthcare spending, less than the OECD average of 9.3 percent and under a third of the 16.9 percent spent by the United States. On a per capita basis, the shortfall is quite dramatic, with national expenditure of US$480 per annum, considerably below the OECD average level of US$3484 per annum.
• China has only 1.6 physicians per thousand people, which is half the OECD average. The situation is even more evident for nurses, with only 1.8 per thousand, compared to the OECD’s average of 8.8.
• Up to 70 percent of China’s water is believed to be polluted.
•  4,000 people die every day due to health problems caused by pollution in China. This is equivalent to 17 percent of all deaths.

Download the Australia-China healthcare opportunities report (English) (PDF)

Download the Australia-China healthcare opportunities report (Chinese) (PDF)

Media enquiries:

University of Sydney: Sally Sitou - +61481 012 597, sally.sitou@sydney.edu.au

National Australia Bank: James Copsey - +61 476 826 334 James.Copsey@nab.com.au

The George Institute: Aaron Wakeley - +61 417 249 295 awakeley@georgeinstitute.org.au