China: cancer hospital bed occupancy rate 2021

In 2020, due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the occupancy rate of cancer hospital beds in China dropped from over 106 percent to under 90 percent. The rate started to rise again in 2021 to 92.71 percent. Throughout the decade before the pandemic, the occupancy rates of beds in Chinese cancer hospitals were constantly exceeding 100 percent, reflecting the insufficient hospital capacity and strong demand for cancer treatments in China.

Rising demand for cancer treatments

As one of the greatest public health challenges facing the country, cancer is becoming increasingly prevalent in China in recent years. In 2020, China reported more than 4.5 million new cancer cases and around three million new cancer deaths.  Subsequently, the demand for cancer treatments also increased significantly in the country. Between 2010 and 2019, the number of patient visits, and the number of inpatients admitted to Chinese cancer hospitals both increased by around 200 percent, making cancer hospitals one of the busiest hospital types in the country. 

The expansion of cancer treatment services

To meet the demands of the patients, China’s cancer treatment services are also expanding. Between 2010 and 2020, the number of healthcare professionals in cancer hospitals, and the number of beds in oncology wards in China both doubled. The equipment of cancer hospitals also improved significantly, with the total worth of high-value equipment in cancer hospitals increasing by over 300 percent between 2010 and 2020.