For some common and minor illnesses, overseas healthcare can offer a better medical experience and more meticulous and considerate detail management. For major diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and neurological disorders, seeking medical treatment abroad means a higher chance of survival.

• Unable to get a diagnosis for a long time;
• Inconsistent diagnoses or treatment recommendations from different hospitals;
• Complex and rare conditions with limited treatment experience;
• High surgical risks;
• Lack of treatment drugs or equipment;
• Treatment plans that would cause irreversible damage, such as enucleation of the eyeball or mastectomy;
• No improvement in treatment, or even worsening of the condition;
• Hospitals are at a loss for treatment;
• Considering participating in clinical trials;
• Good economic conditions and seeking more abundant medical resources.

1. Copies of Medical Records (including outpatient and inpatient records, laboratory and examination reports during hospitalization, pathology reports, gene testing reports, treatment records, surgical or biopsy records, and discharge summaries. These can be copied at the hospital’s medical records office with the patient’s ID card and hospitalization number).
2. Original Imaging Films or CDs (including X-rays, CT films, MRI films, PET-CT films or CDs, bone scans, etc. Generally, you can request a new copy from the hospital’s radiology department). If the imaging materials do not have an electronic version issued by the hospital, we need to scan the films provided by the patient into the internationally accepted DICOM format using an imported medical scanner.
3. Pathology Slides (stained pathology slides from the hospital; more than 20 unstained pathology slides for immunohistochemistry, gene testing, etc. These can be obtained from the hospital’s pathology department by paying a deposit with the patient’s ID card and hospitalization number).

(1) Accurate Diagnosis

A wrong diagnosis can lead to a misguided treatment direction. According to past service data from us, among cancer patients seeking medical treatment abroad, 12% had different diagnostic results. In developed medical countries like the United States and the United Kingdom, pathology is the gold standard for cancer diagnosis. However, there are still shortcomings in the development of pathology technology, the training of pathologists, and the standardized use of pathology in actual tumor diagnosis.

(2) Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) Collaboration

Many diseases are complex and involve multiple disciplines. In developed medical countries like the United States and the United Kingdom, patients first make an appointment with a primary care physician (usually an internist), who will organize a multidisciplinary team of experts based on the patient's condition. This team provides diagnosis and formulates treatment plans for the patient. This is known as the MDT model. Although it has just been introduced in some regions, it is limited by the shortage of medical resources per capita and is difficult to widely popularize. However, it has been relatively maturely implemented in Europe and America for many years.

(3) Personalized Treatment Plans

Due to the scarcity of medical resources, the amount of medical resources allocated to each patient is extremely limited. Disease treatment mostly relies on guidelines and standard protocols. However, each patient has unique conditions and physical constitutions. In developed medical countries like the United States and the United Kingdom, patients have more options, and expert teams will develop personalized treatment plans for them. According to past service data from us, 77% of patients seeking medical treatment abroad had their treatment plans changed, including changes in the treatment plan itself, methods of drug administration, adjustments to the order of treatment, and changes in dosage.

(4) Access to New Drugs

New drugs and effective medications usually hit the market in Europe and America first and enter China after a delay. According to statistics from the National Medical Products Administration of China in 2018:over the past decade, 415 new drugs have been launched in the United States, Europe, and Japan, but only 76 of them have been approved in China, accounting for less than 20%. Additionally, according to statistics from the professional consulting firm IQVIA, from 2012 to 2016, a total of 55 new cancer drugs were launched globally, with 46 of them approved in the United States within two years, and only 4 in China. These new drugs can be life-saving for patients.

(5) Clinical Trials

For cancer patients whose conditions cannot be controlled by existing drugs and therapies, participating in clinical trials may be their last hope. However, as of September 2018, nearly 300,000 clinical trials had been registered globally. 40% of these were conducted in the United States, while only 7% were in China. Moreover, the newest and most cutting-edge clinical trials are usually in the United States. At MD Anderson Cancer Center, a leading cancer hospital in the United States, hundreds of clinical trials are ongoing daily. As long as patients meet the criteria, they can apply to join these trials.

(6) Advanced Equipment, Environment, and Humanistic Care

Medical treatment is highly uncertain, and a significant portion of those seeking medical treatment abroad are patients with severe conditions. No hospital or doctor in the world can guarantee a 100% cure for cancer. If anyone claims otherwise, it is certainly a deception. For early-stage cancer, seeking medical treatment abroad can indeed offer a higher possibility of complete cure. For mid-to-late stage cancer, some patients may achieve long-term complete remission; some may extend their lives while waiting for the emergence of new treatment technologies and simultaneously attain a better quality of life; while others may unfortunately return without success.

Currently, in practical applications, teleconsultation still has significant limitations.

• Firstly, doctors cannot conduct further examinations and assessments. Their medical advice is based solely on the imaging and medical records provided. This is quite different from the judgments and recommendations that can be made when doctors see patients in person, observe them, and arrange necessary examinations. Moreover, there are also differences in the standards for imaging required by foreign hospitals.
• Secondly, when it comes to formulating treatment plans, within the limited number of questions or communication time, doctors may not be able to provide a definitive treatment plan. This is especially true for complex diseases, which usually require multidisciplinary discussions and emphasize personalized treatment. The patient's pathological type, genetic mutations, physical condition, and the presence of other diseases all influence the formulation of the treatment plan. It may not be sufficient to meet the requirements for formulating a plan through teleconsultation alone.
• In addition, there are limitations in the implementation of the plans. The United States is a global leader in the research and development of new drugs and technologies. Some of these new drugs and technologies may not yet be available in other countries, or some doctors may not be familiar with certain treatment plans. As a result, even if a relatively specific plan is provided through teleconsultation, it may not be feasible to implement it.

Generally speaking, if a patient's condition is relatively severe and they are not suitable for long-haul flights, they can obtain expert treatment recommendations through teleconsultation. The more serious the disease, the more critical the next steps in treatment. Teleconsultation opinions can provide valuable references for patients and their attending physicians, or help assess whether the patient is suitable for seeking medical treatment abroad.

Seeking medical treatment abroad generally involves two stages:

The first stage is the medical assessment phase, where patients visit the hospital to see their primary care physician, undergo a face-to-face consultation and relevant examinations, and then receive a clear diagnosis and personalized treatment plan from a multidisciplinary team after their condition is evaluated. This stage typically requires a stay of 1-2 weeks. In the United States, it may cost around $20,000 to $50,000;

The second stage is the implementation of the treatment plan. Taking cancer treatment as an example, patients generally need to stay for 3-6 months (the exact duration depends on the treatment plan). Including the costs of the first stage, in the United States, patients may spend around $200,000 to $400,000. Some patients may spend less than these amounts, while others may spend more, depending on the specific treatment plan implemented.

For patients, the first stage—the medical assessment phase—is extremely valuable because the vast majority of misdiagnoses, mistreatments, and outdated medical practices stem from the process of diagnosis and treatment plan formulation. If the diagnosis and plan are correct, and if the conditions for implementation are met, patients can also choose to return to their home country for treatment.

For patients, the biggest burden of seeking medical treatment abroad is the high cost of medical care.

1. Before Departure: Basic medical consultation, recommendations for hospitals and specialists, organization and translation of medical records, hospital appointments, mailing of pathology and imaging materials, assistance with medical visa applications, accommodation arrangements, flight reservations, pre-departure guidance, and updates to medical records, etc.
2. After Departure: Accompaniment during the trip abroad, airport pick-up and drop-off services overseas, apartment accommodation overseas, transportation arrangements overseas, translation and accompaniment for medical visits, daily care overseas, and handling of emergency situations overseas, etc.
3. After Returning Home: Translation of medical records into Chinese, guidance on handling hospital bills, follow-up with specialists, and re-appointment with hospitals, etc.

1) Medical Consultation (Within one working day after the client reserves information, the medical consultant will make the first contact for consultation.)

2) Provide Medical Records (After preliminary communication, if the client decides to adopt our services, they will provide the corresponding materials.)

3) Sign Contract and Make Payment (The client signs a contract with INNOCARE and pays the initial service fee.)

4) Recommend Hospitals (Summarize and translate medical records; screen and recommend hospitals and doctors; guide visa application materials.)

5) Initiate Appointment (Make appointments based on the client's choice.)

6) Pay Hospital Estimated Fees (After completing the appointment, guide the client to pay the estimated fees to the hospital.)

7) Visa Assistance (Assist the client in obtaining a medical visa for the relevant country.)

8) Pre-Departure Guidance(Book flights and accommodations, provide pre-departure guidance, and arrange a person in charge.)

9) Seek Medical Treatment Abroad (Provide local transportation, translation accompaniment, and other medical-related services.)

10) Return to the Country (After the medical treatment is completed and the client returns home, translate the medical records into Chinese.)