Since the end of 1970s, as China implements economic reform and opens to the outside world, a few new segments that have different healthcare requirements emerged. These segments include expatriates living in China, wealthy local entrepreneurs, high-income executives in multi-national and private companies, and celebrities from movie and sports industry. These individuals are not satisfied with existing public healthcare service, in terms of wait time, facility and healthcare quality. In face of these emerging needs, a number of premium medical facilities have been established since the mid 1990's, including foreigners' wards and VIP wards of prestigious public hospitals and international or joint venture hospitals and clinics.

From the beginning of this year, China is going through a healthcare system reform with drastic change, from social welfare to commercial insurance. At same time, China is gradually and slowly opening up its healthcare market to foreign medical service providers and insurance companies. These have further stimulated the demand for high end medical service. As Chinese economies grow, high income population increase, and people's health consciousness enhance, the premium healthcare market is set to grow at an accelerated pace in the next five years. This will create great opportunities to domestic and foreign companies who are well positioned to meet unmet needs in such high-end market segments.

Under such circumstances, it is the perfect time to launch this "Shanghai Health Service Show 2009". The show will invite organizations which focus on high end market with the capability of providing quality services to ensure that only premier healthcare service providers are involved in. At the opening ceremony of the show, a directory named "China Premier Healthcare Services Directory (Shanghai Edition) " will also be offered as a professional yellow page of healthcare providers for multi-national companies, expatriates, large state-owned and private companies. The directory will function as a continued marketing tool during and after the show through specific channels to visitors who have not been to the show personally.