BEIJING - China's Ministry of Health (MOH) said Thursday that from April 1, hospitals wholly-owned by Hong Kong and Macao investors are allowed in four municipalities and the capital cities of all provinces and autonomous regions in the mainland.

Previously, hospitals wholly-owned by entities from Hong Kong and Macao were allowed to operate only in Shanghai and Chongqing municipalities and Guangdong and Hainan provinces, according to a policy effective from January 1, 2011, issued by the MOH and the Ministry of Commerce.

The expansion was based on the supplemental agreements of the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangements between the mainland and Hong Kong and Macao, respectively, the MOH said.

According to related policy, the hospitals wholly-owned by Hong Kong and Macao can decide themselves whether to operate as non-profit or for-profit hospitals, and must be independent legal entities.

Those hospitals should also meet the investment volume as required by the mainland, according to the MOH.