Roche Group Schwan: China's Commercial Health Insurance Accounts for Only 10% of Total Medical Expenditure, Still Has Enormous Potential

Ask AI · Shi Wan: How do you view the future growth path of China’s commercial health insurance?

Beijing News Shell Finance Report (Reporter Ding Shuang): “Long-term and visionary investment in the ecosystem is an important factor in China’s success in improving healthcare services and building a vibrant life sciences industry.” On March 22, Roche Group Chairman Shi Wan stated at the China Development High-Level Forum 2026 Annual Meeting.

Shi Wan said that the life sciences industry is not a sector that can operate alone; it requires collaboration with partners and the ecosystem. China has invested in science, basic science, top hospitals, education, and leading universities, forming numerous innovation hubs. These investments have laid the foundation for attracting global companies.

Additionally, Shi Wan noted China’s progress in “soft environment” improvements. He said that China is continuously improving its regulatory system, optimizing approval processes, and strengthening intellectual property protection, all of which are actively promoting high-quality industry development.

However, in his view, resource allocation competition and the deepening aging population will be the practical issues China needs to face in the coming years.

Shi Wan analyzed that with the growth of public fiscal resources, finding new funding sources to support innovation is key to sustaining the development of the life sciences industry. In this context, commercial insurance is regarded as one of the most important solutions. He cited data indicating that currently, China’s commercial health insurance accounts for about 10% of overall medical expenditure, and this field still has enormous potential.

Editor: Yue Caizhou

Proofreader: Jia Ning