The Islands Healthcare Complex – Macao Medical Center of PUMCH (hereinafter referred to as the Macao Medical Center of PUMCH) is a milestone cooperation between PUMCH and the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) under the guidance of the National Health Commission. It is tasked with facilitating healthcare development of the Macao SAR. It carries great significance for implementing President Xi Jinping’s important instructions regarding Hong Kong and Macao affairs, facilitating the integration of Hong Kong and Macao into the overall national development, contributing to the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and reflecting and acting upon “One Country, Two Systems” in the specific field of health. The ceremony for the trial operation commencement of the Macao Medical Center of PUMCH was recently held on the anniversary of Macao’s return to the motherland, marking a new chapter in the development of healthcare in Macao.

Tap into complementarity of the two sides and lay a solid foundation for the high-quality healthcare development in Macao

Given the increasing demand for medical services, the Macao SAR government proposed the development of the Islands Healthcare Complex in the “Plan for Perfecting the Medical and Healthcare System” in 2011. The aim was to enhance the local capabilities for treating complicated and critical conditions and providing specialty healthcare services so that patients with major illnesses do not need to seek medical services outside Macao. The proposal also intended to maximize the advantages and potential of developing medical tourism in Macao and promoting the big health industry with considerations for “tourism + healthcare”.

▲A bird’s-eye view of the Macao Medical Center of PUMCH at night

In 2021, with the support of the national government, the Macao SAR government invited the renowned and top-notch PUMCH, recommended by the National Health Commission, to be its partner for the Islands Healthcare Complex. Macao Medical Center of PUMCH is a prime example of cooperation between the Macao SAR government and the Mainland in healthcare under “One Country, Two Systems”, setting a precedent for jointly building a hospital.

At the invitation of Macao, PUMCH has actively engaged itself in the project over the past three years since then. PUMCH leaders, together with all the staff members, demonstrated a strong sense of political responsibility and mission. They have closely communicated and collaborated with the Macao team; personnel were dispatched to Macao in batches to ensure high-quality construction and high efficiency in project acceptance, equipment procurement, and talent recruitment. More personnel will be dispatched and they will bring with them to Macao the PUMCH brand and culture, expert teams, management philosophies, advanced technologies, and medical resources. Such efforts aim at equipping Macao with better capabilities to treat complicated and critical conditions and provide specialty services, which, coupled with Macao’s institutional advantages in introducing advanced drugs and medical equipment, will give more healthcare options to residents and visitors alike.

The largest healthcare complex in Macao, with internationally advanced equipment

The Macao Medical Center of PUMCH is currently the largest healthcare complex in Macao. Adjacent to the Cotai Road (Estrada do Istmo), on the northeast side of the Seac Pai Van Reservoir in Coloane, the hospital spans over 76,000 square meters, with a gross floor area of about 430,000 square meters. With a planned capacity of 1,000 beds once the rehabilitation hospital is completed and 26 operating rooms, the complex includes the Macao Hospital, the Logistics and Support Building, the Residential Building for Staff, the Administration and Multi-Services Building, and the Central Laboratory Building.

The new hospital has introduced internationally advanced and distinctive medical equipment and facilities. For instance, the 26 operation rooms consist of 1 integrated hybrid operation room, 8 conventional operation rooms, 13 day surgery rooms and endoscopy rooms, and 4 rooms for cesarean section and artificial insemination. All 8 conventional operation rooms are equipped with mainstream integrated endoscopy systems, capable of performing all routine surgeries. The integrated hybrid operating room, with an area of 174 square meters, allows for different procedures to be performed concurrently, such as catheter-based surgeries, gastrointestinal endoscopy surgeries, and abdominal surgeries, enabling the earliest possible rescue and optimal surgical procedures for complex vascular malformations, complex digestive tract tumors, postoperative bleeding, and other emergency surgeries. The new hospital also adopts advanced medical technologies and international equipment from PUMCH to provide services such as tumor radiotherapy and diagnostic imaging, including computerized tomography (CT) scanning, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT), single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), and linear accelerators.

The Macao Medical Center of PUMCH will gradually provide specialized outpatient and inpatient services in a phased manner starting in 2024. As it proceeds with recruitment, equipment calibration, and information systems, etc., the new hospital will gradually offer radiological imaging services, such as ultrasound, CT, and MRI examinations, to Macao residents. Additionally, services such as medical cosmetics, health management, comprehensive cancer treatment, and certain specialized outpatient clinics will be launched progressively.

As a large general public medical institution, the Macao Medical Center of PUMCH will prioritize public healthcare services and, under the pretext of that, also provide private healthcare services to better ensure the health and well-being of residents.

Furthermore, the Macao Medical Center of PUMCH will gradually establish administrative departments and facilities for medical education and research, planning to carry out medical education and research activities. It aims to become a high-level training institution in Macao, providing a platform of high-quality continuous learning and professional development for local healthcare professionals. In line with the Macao SAR Government’s policies to promote the development of specialized medical services and train various healthcare personnel, the Macao Medical Center of PUMCH will create the necessary conditions and training environment. Meanwhile, Macao will bring into play its role as a “experience center, trading platform and demonstration base” in the Greater Bay Area to support PUMCH in its international exchange and research efforts and help the Macao Medical Center of PUMCH build a stronger presence globally.

Written by the Publicity Department and the Government Information Bureau of the Macao SAR

Pictures courtesy of the Government Information Bureau of the Macao SAR

Translated by Liu Haiyan

Reviewed by Wang Yao