How much does treatment with the same innovative drug cost in China? From one box of medicine to a round trip

EastMedGo Nov 6, 2026

First, ask the prescribing doctor to write down the generic name, brand name, dose per administration, and date of your next follow-up. Use this information to ask the hospital receiving you in China to estimate the total amount you will need to pay through the follow-up date. Also ask your local insurer to calculate your out-of-pocket costs for the same period. Once you can compare the two figures side by side, decide whether the trip is worthwhile.

Key points For long-term oral medicines, check the number of whole boxes needed and the medicine left over. For intravenous medicines, check how many vials are needed for each administration. When comparing costs in the two locations, also check how much your local insurance will cover.

First, find the same four details on both medicine boxes

Check the active ingredient, brand or manufacturer, strength per tablet or vial, and number of tablets or units per box. For injection pens, also check the concentration, dose that can be delivered per injection, and number of doses per pen. For example, “one semaglutide pen” is not enough information for a price estimate: Ozempic prescriptions for diabetes and Wegovy prescriptions for weight management use different pen types.

Start by estimating costs for the same brand and the same amount of medicine. In the table below, the Chinese amounts are reference medicine prices, and the Dutch amounts are rates for care without an insurance contract. For your personal budget, use the actual hospital site and your insurance settlement terms.

Medicine and pack size	Reference medicine price in China	Medicine rate in the Netherlands	Dutch amount expressed in CNY (yuan)
Tagrisso · osimertinib, 80 mg × 30 tablets	CNY 4,966.20	EUR 6,150.31–6,308.06	Approximately CNY 46,000–47,200
Alecensa · alectinib, 150 mg × 224 capsules	CNY 12,299.84	EUR 5,458.91	Approximately CNY 40,900
Keytruda · pembrolizumab, 100 mg × 1 vials	CNY 17,918	Approximately EUR 2,861	Approximately CNY 21,400

Based on these unit prices, the difference in medicine costs for one box of Tagrisso is approximately CNY 41,000–42,000. If your local insurance provides reimbursement, first ask how much you would pay out of pocket for a prescribed 30-day supply, then compare that with the total cost of coming to China.

How much you use each month and how much you pay for your first supply

Zanubrutinib 80 mg capsules come in bottles of 64 capsules, priced at CNY 5,336.96. Assuming the prescription is for a total of 320 mg daily, you need 120 capsules for 30 days, costing CNY 10,006.80 when calculated per capsule. If the pharmacy sells only whole bottles, you pay for two bottles initially, or CNY 10,673.92, with 8 capsules left for the next period. The dispensing price under Australia's Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme for the same quantity of 120 capsules is AUD 8,057.72.

Fruquintinib requires a different calculation. A box of 5 mg × 7 capsules costs CNY 2,513.70. If this cycle requires 21 capsules, three boxes provide exactly enough, so both the amount paid and the cost of the medicine used are CNY 7,541.10. In Belgium, the hospital list price for 5 mg × 21 capsules is approximately EUR 4,240. The comparison is for 21 capsules in each location. If you need to stay in China until your next follow-up, accommodation and outpatient fees must also be listed separately.

For the same number of milligrams, the strengths stocked by the pharmacy can change the bill

For example, sacituzumab tirumotecan costs CNY 2,676.47 for a 100 mg vial and CNY 4,550 for a 200 mg vial. If your doctor has already prescribed 300 mg, one 100 mg vial plus one 200 mg vial costs CNY 7,226.47 in total. If only the 200 mg pack is used that day, billing for two whole vials comes to CNY 9,100. When booking, ask which strengths the pharmacy can provide that day, whether charges are based on whole vials, and how much extra blood tests and day-unit infusions cost.

For CAR-T, the quote is priced per patient dose of the cell product. You also need to know the expected schedule from collection and manufacturing through admission for infusion, whether bridging therapy will be needed while you wait, and how long you will need to stay near the center after infusion. When comparing two centers, ask them to estimate costs for the same period, such as “from the initial assessment to the first follow-up after infusion.”

A price inquiry you can send directly to the hospital

I am planning to receive [generic medicine name, brand name] treatment at your hospital, through [the regular outpatient clinic / the international outpatient clinic], with payment by [self-payment / insurer name]. I have attached my diagnosis, previous treatments, recent body weight, and existing prescription. Please ask the receiving department to confirm the planned dose and treatment cycle, and the pharmacy to list each medicine's strength, unit price, and number of whole boxes or vials, along with the quote's validity period and the earliest date for collection or infusion. Please itemize outpatient visits, tests, concomitant medicines, infusion, or inpatient costs from the first assessment through [follow-up date], stating the currency, unit price, subtotal, estimated total, and any additional charges. Please specify the advance payment required, which items are refundable if treatment is delayed or medicine is not used, and the billing contact.

The hospital provides the initial payment amount, medical costs through the follow-up date, and number of hospital visits. Family members add accommodation and round-trip travel costs based on the expected length of stay, then ask the local doctor or insurer about follow-up and prescription renewal costs after returning home. If an item says “charged depending on circumstances,” ask when the charge applies and how it is calculated. Using the hospital name, medicine name, and treatment cycle, the insurer can check the arrangements for prior authorization, direct billing, or payment followed by reimbursement. If you are going to Shanghai to obtain medicine, you can also use the medicine price comparison service on “Shanghai Medical Insurance” to check prices at designated pharmacies by product name, manufacturer, and smallest pack size, then confirm prescription requirements and stock with the pharmacy.Shanghai Municipal Healthcare Security Bureau

Frequently asked questions

What should I confirm with the pharmacy before traveling to Shanghai to collect medicine?

Provide the hospital site receiving you in Shanghai with the prescription details “Tagrisso, 80 mg, 30 tablets,” and ask the pharmacy to state the local price, how long the quote is valid, and whether you can collect the medicine on the day of your appointment.

If I only pay a small out-of-pocket amount in my home country, do I still need to compare wholesale medicine prices?

For your personal budget, prioritize comparing the amounts payable after your insurance policy has been applied. Ask your insurer to explain your remaining deductible, copayment, and designated pharmacy, then compare that figure with the total cost of medical care in China plus travel.

Can I compare one vial overseas with three vials in China?

You can first check the total amount of medicine and confirm that it is the same product. For example, in Beijing, toripalimab 80 mg × 3 vials provides 240 mg in total and costs CNY 2,438.64. In Denmark, each vial of LOQTORZI contains 240 mg, with a hospital medicine list price of DKK 74,761.25.

What if the doctor changes the treatment plan after the first assessment?

Ask the receiving provider to issue a revised estimate specifying the changed medicine names, strengths, doses, cycles, and medicine order dates. For any deposit already paid, ask the finance department to confirm how it will be credited and when the remaining balance will be refunded.

Can I have my first infusion in China and continue treatment after returning home?

Have the doctors in both locations first confirm that the same product is available locally, that its use for the indication is accepted, and that the administration records and follow-up results can be obtained. Once a doctor has agreed to take over your care, calculate how many trips to China you need and how many days each stay will require.