Stuart Lye, a 58-year-old New Zealander diagnosed with high-risk myeloma in 2018, traveled to Shanghai in 2025 for CAR-T immunotherapy after exhausting treatment options at home [1, 2, 3, 4]. CAR-T treatment is not commercially available in New Zealand, and ongoing clinical trials there did not cover Lye's specific cancer [1, 2, 3, 4].
Lye faced a hefty price tag in Australia, where CAR-T treatments can cost more than A$500,000 (about S$450,000 according to some sources, while others put it nearer $350,000) [1, 2, 3, 4]. After a referral by a fellow patient, Lye and his wife decided to undergo a 7-week clinical trial in Shanghai last year, which brought his cancer under control [1, 2, 3].
The total cost for treatment, including hospital care and airfare, was about US$65,000 (approximately S$84,000), significantly cheaper than Australia or other countries [1, 2, 3]. Lye said, "Looking outside of New Zealand for CAR-T was my only option. China was an easy choice as they are at the forefront in research and development, and the treatment is near a 10th of the cost of other countries" [1].
China is emerging as a hub for medical tourism by offering advanced cancer therapies at lower prices than many home countries [1, 2, 3]. Traditional Asian medical tourism destinations like Thailand, South Korea, and Malaysia generally focus on cosmetic surgery, IVF, and checkups, while China distinguishes itself through cutting-edge treatments [1, 2, 3].
Victor Cao, operations director of Joyful Medical in Shanghai, noted, "There are two reasons why a patient travels for medical treatments: availability of advanced treatments and price. Chinese people used to travel overseas for treatments that were not available at home, but now the tables have turned" [1]. Eased visa rules and travel after pandemic restrictions have facilitated the rise in foreign patients coming to China for care [1, 2, 3].
Lye’s diagnosis came in 2018, when he was told he had three months to live [1, 2, 3, 4]. After 10 days of communication with the Shanghai hospital, he and his wife chose to travel there for treatment in 2025 [1]. The 7-week CAR-T trial in Shanghai stabilized his cancer and provided hope where local options had failed [2, 3].
