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China’s New National Standard for Paid Medical Accompaniment Services: What Foreign Founders Need to Know Before November 1

China’s new national standard for socialized medical accompaniment services takes effect on November 1, 2026. Foreign founders operating in healthcare or service sectors should understand provider eligibility, permitted and prohibited tasks, and hospital oversight mechanisms.

China’s New National Standard for Paid Medical Accompaniment Services

Foreign founders building businesses in China’s healthcare or service sectors should take note of a new national standard that will reshape the paid medical accompaniment industry. The standard, titled “Socialized Accompanying Medical Treatment Services — Basic Requirements” (GB/T 47801—2026), was approved by the State Administration for Market Regulation and will officially take effect on November 1, 2026. It establishes a service framework covering providers, service content, and service processes.

The standard responds to a growing pain point: elderly patients navigating large hospitals alone, and out-of-town patients unfamiliar with local hospital systems. The accompaniment industry emerged to address these needs, but without service standards, it has faced issues such as blurred boundaries and inconsistent service quality.

Who Can Provide Socialized Accompaniment Services?

Under the new standard, the provider of socialized accompaniment services must be an institution. The institution’s accompaniment staff (often called “accompaniment specialists”) directly deliver services to clients. Clients are defined as individuals who face difficulties accessing medical care due to mobility, cognitive, or geographic differences, or those seeking a better healthcare experience. Institutions may generate revenue by providing these services.

Accompaniment specialists must possess basic knowledge and professional conduct. According to Deng Yong, professor and doctoral supervisor at the Law Department of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, specialists should master hospital visit procedures, basic medical terminology, and emergency response knowledge, and be able to accurately relay a patient’s condition. They must strictly adhere to compliance底线, firmly refusing to scalp appointment slots or promote medications. Patience and empathy are also essential to reassure patients.

What Services Are Permitted?

With the consent of the client or their legal guardian, an accompaniment specialist may perform the following tasks:

• Queue to obtain appointment numbers; schedule examinations and help with examination preparation.
• Purchase or collect basic medical supplies such as wheelchairs, companion beds, and disposable masks.
• Guide clients to designated areas, such as departments, examination rooms, or treatment areas.
• Deliver test samples, collect medications and test results, record medical advice, and collect or copy medical documents including medical records and diagnostic certificates.
• Handle admission and discharge procedures, make payments, and provide daily living assistance during visits (e.g., booking transportation or meals, temporarily storing belongings).
• Offer emotional support during medical visits.

What Services Are Prohibited?

Accompaniment specialists are not medical personnel. They must not:

• Interpret test results.
• Participate in medical procedures.
• Provide medical advice.
• Adjust a client’s medication regimen.
• Choose or consent to treatment plans on behalf of the client or family.
• Conceal, alter, or selectively convey key medical information about the client.
• Sign legally binding medical documents on behalf of the client.

How Can Hospitals Ensure Quality and Prevent Overreach?

Deng Yong recommends that hospitals strengthen management of accompaniment specialists by exploring a mechanism of “admission filing, behavior control, and public supervision.” Specific measures include:

• Establishing a unified admission channel for specialists, verifying identity and criminal records, and issuing temporary access passes.
• Requiring third-party institutions and individuals to file records, and explicitly prohibiting solicitation in consultation rooms or registration areas.
• Publicly displaying a list of legitimate accompaniment providers and complaint hotlines in outpatient halls.

Hospitals should also collaborate with industry associations to conduct pre-job training and award service badges recognized by the hospital to those who pass assessments. Relevant authorities should strengthen supervision by exploring a multi-department joint enforcement mechanism involving market regulation, public security, and health departments to investigate and punish illegal activities such as price fraud and unlicensed operations.

Practical Implications for Foreign Founders

Foreign entrepreneurs looking to enter China’s healthcare service market should note that the new standard clarifies the institutional nature of service providers. If you plan to offer accompaniment services, your entity must be a registered institution, and your staff must meet the knowledge and conduct requirements. The standard also draws clear lines between permitted assistance and prohibited medical activities, helping you design compliant service offerings and training programs.

Additionally, hospitals are encouraged to implement admission and supervision mechanisms, which may affect how your business partners with hospitals. Building relationships with hospital administrators and industry associations will be important for obtaining necessary approvals and training certifications.

As with any regulated sector, foreign founders should ensure their business scope, staffing, and operational procedures align with the new national standard before it takes effect on November 1, 2026.

This summary is based on information published by the relevant Chinese government website and is general information, not legal or tax advice.

For assistance with registering and operating a company in China, foreign founders can contact ChinaMNC on WhatsApp / WeChat at +86 153 1898 8535.