Nonprofit Boston Hospital Mulls Venture in China

Brigham and Women’s Hospital, which trains Harvard Medical School students, is considering an expansion to China in partnership with a billionaire property mogul, Bloomberg reports.

Brigham and Women’s spokeswoman Erin McDonagh said the Boston facility is exploring a proposal by Evergrande Real Estate Group to build a hospital in China. Evergrande, led by Chinese billionaire Hui Ka Yan, donated an undisclosed amount to Harvard in December to develop three research centers, one to be co-run by Brigham and Women’s. Ms. McDonagh said the proposed property deal is unrelated to the gift.

If completed, the deal would be the first to bring a Harvard-affiliated hospital to China. Many U.S. hospitals and medical schools are looking to China as that country’s economy matures and Chinese demand for health care grows, said Joanne Conroy of the American Association of Medical Colleges.