Hainan Mellsser Hospital, part of the Leczcore Group, has become the latest member of the Mayo Clinic Care Network, marking a significant step in expanding international medical collaboration.

The announcement came during a ceremony in Sanya on Thursday, where Royston Lek, Mayo Clinic's Asia-Pacific executive director, presented the network plaque to Liu Xinjian, vice-president of Hainan Mellsser Hospital. The move coincides with Hainan province's preparations for island-wide special customs operations starting Dec 18, aimed at enhancing the Boao Lecheng International Medical Tourism Pilot Zone.

Mayo Clinic, a nonprofit academic medical center with over 160 years of history, is globally recognized for excellence in clinical practice, education and research. Its network includes more than 45 affiliated health care providers across the United States, Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Middle East.

Opened in March 2023, Hainan Mellsser Hospital provides a range of specialties including international medical care, cosmetic medicine, traditional Chinese medicine and ophthalmology. It aims to offer integrated services spanning prevention, treatment, recovery and long-term care.

The collaboration will enable clinical knowledge sharing, joint development of treatment protocols and professional training, with an emphasis on improving care quality and patient outcomes.

"Membership in the network requires meeting rigorous standards for quality and patient safety," said Lek. "After more than two years of evaluation, we recognized a strong alignment in patient-centered care philosophy." He added that China remains a strategic focus for Mayo Clinic, which continues to support local health care development.

Liu Xiangli, president of Leczcore, said: "We are not only introducing advanced medical technology but also adopting Mayo Clinic's patient-first values, allowing our patients to access world-class medical services without leaving China."

Liu Xinjian noted that the membership reflects Leczcore's global strategy. The hospital plans to deepen collaboration in areas including lung cancer, prostate cancer, sleep medicine and neurology, with emphasis on screening, prevention and rehabilitation.

He also cited Hainan Free Trade Port policies - such as visa-free entry, expanded international flights and convenient cross-border payments - as key factors in attracting international patients and building a multicultural medical service platform.

Brittany Schuchard, senior program manager for global advisory services at Mayo Clinic, said the partners will introduce new screening and prevention programs for chronic conditions including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases.

Yi Tuoxin, deputy director of the Boao Lecheng International Medical Tourism Pilot Zone Administration, said the zone has attracted more than 30 high-level medical institutions and introduced over 500 innovative international medical products and devices for the first time in China, benefiting more than 160,000 patients.