Chinese healthcare companies are expanding overseas to serve growing expatriate communities in the Middle East and Southeast Asia. Distinct Healthcare plans to open a clinic in Dubai this year, while Gushengtang eyes 50 centers in the region.
Chinese healthcare companies are venturing abroad to cater to expatriate communities in regions like the Middle East and Southeast Asia, where many mainland firms are establishing operations across sectors.
“A wide range of Chinese companies are expanding overseas,” setting up local operations and bringing Chinese employees with them, said Philip Wang, CEO of Distinct Healthcare Holdings, in an interview on Monday.
“Chinese expatriate workers are often not familiar with the local healthcare system,” said Wang. “If there is a Chinese-run clinic, they may come to us. We can help bridge the language gap … or we can help connect them with some local resources to assist them.”
He added that the company plans to follow the flow of Chinese customers into international markets.
The Shenzhen-based private healthcare service provider plans to open its first clinic in Dubai, the financial hub of the United Arab Emirates, this year, after making inroads earlier into Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Meanwhile, TCM group Gushengtang eyes 50 centres in Southeast Asia to serve Chinese communities there.
On Friday, Distinct Healthcare raised HK$284.53 million (US$36.4 million) from its initial public offering (IPO) in Hong Kong, according to an exchange filing. Its stock has lost about 12 per cent since the listing, closing at HK$59.90 on Tuesday.
These moves highlight the trend of Chinese firms going global to provide familiar healthcare options for expatriates.