A boost for Huawei Watch D2
After the launch of Huawei's new Watch D2 smartwatch in November 2024, buyers discovered they could pay with health insurance instead of paying out of pocket.
Since then, the watch has become so popular in Chinese pharmacies that some require customers to pre-order it, while others have quickly run out of stock, according to media reports and social media posts.
On the social media platform Xiaohongshu, users share tips on how the watch's blood pressure monitoring function allows it to be registered as a medical device and can therefore be paid for with money deposited into each person's personal account opened by state health insurance, in whole or in part, depending on the regulations of different cities.
With this advantage, Huawei Watch D2 has had the necessary boost in sales. Meanwhile, Apple Watch is not registered as a medical device in China.
According to Bloomberg, China's health insurance program covers 95% of the country's population, with each resident receiving a certain amount of money every month into their personal account.
This amount is used to pay for medications and medical equipment (such as blood glucose meters, blood pressure monitors, thermometers) at hospitals or pharmacies, before the patient reaches the annual deductible for reimbursement.
Money in the account cannot be withdrawn for any other purpose. A healthy individual can accumulate a considerable amount of money if they do not use the money to pay hospital bills.
The Controversies
Priced at $409, the Huawei Watch has a host of health-tracking features, including a monitor that measures the wearer's blood pressure, sleep quality, heart rate, and step count.
Because it is classified as a medical device, the watch is being sold in pharmacies across China. According to local reports, the smartwatch is so popular that some pharmacies in Shanghai are limiting purchases through health insurance to one per person. Many pharmacies also require buyers to activate the watch upon purchase to prevent resale.
“These watches are currently unavailable,” a pharmacy in Shanghai told Chinese media. “Buyers need to make an appointment. There are more than 500 people in line.”
To emphasize its medical function, Huawei officially calls the Watch D2 a "wrist blood pressure monitor", but it is nearly 10 times more expensive than a regular blood pressure monitor.
However, many people debate whether multifunctional technology devices should be classified as medical devices simply because they have blood pressure measuring features.
They also expressed concern that more consumer tech companies could exploit the health label, further draining China's medical resources.
In response to the growing controversy, the health insurance authority in the eastern coastal city of Ningbo has temporarily banned such purchases. Officials said they are discussing the issue and will inform pharmacies of any further decisions.
