From July 6 to 17, 2026, the Second Affiliated Hospital Zhejiang University School of Medicine (SAHZU) hosted 29 international students from 12 countries—including the United States, Brazil, the United Kingdom, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Portugal, Colombia, Myanmar, Thailand, and Morocco—for a two‑week intensive program on TCM and Western Medicine Integration and public health practice. The module was part of the 2026 Zhejiang University SDG Global Summer School.

In Hangzhou, participants gained an overview of China's healthcare system and basic medical insurance framework, and studied foundational concepts of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)—the yin‑yang and five elements theory, four diagnostic methods, herbal medicine, acupuncture, Tuina, and cupping. They observed integrated TCM‑Western medicine consultations in departments including Traditional Chinese Medicine, Rehabilitation, Urology, Neurology, and Hematology.

The group also visited SAHZU Quzhou Branch (Quzhou Second People's Hospital) and its township health centers in Duze and Nianli. They toured county hospitals, village clinics, and participated in rural outreach clinics and home visits, gaining firsthand insight into China's tiered healthcare system and its grassroots efforts toward universal health coverage.

Students also learned about SAHZU's digital health innovations, including 5G‑enabled emergency response, drone‑based blood delivery, and online hospital services. They visited the Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine and a community health center in Puyan to see modern TCM facilities and urban primary care in action.

As one of China's earliest sites of Western medicine and a national pilot hospital for TCM-Western medicine integration, SAHZU has long been committed to international medical exchange. To date, the hospital has welcomed over 600 junior medical professionals from nearly 60 countries for clinical training and observation. This summer program continues that tradition, offering a cross‑cultural platform for future health leaders to explore how traditional and modern approaches can work together for patient benefit.

"We hope this program takes the world's next generation of healthcare leaders from textbooks to the field—from theory to practice—so they can truly understand how TCM complements modern medicine and how health equity is realized in China," said Prof. Jian'an Wang, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and president of SAHZU.