China's Healthcare Advances Drawing Worldwide Attention

Background

A 30-year-old Spanish tourist identified as Juan sustained a severe pelvic fracture while traveling in Guang'an, Sichuan province in late January 2026. With assistance from his friend Cai Xuefeng, a native of Chongqing, he was transferred to the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University in the city's Yuzhong district.

The case was detailed in a China Daily article published on March 10, 2026. It forms part of broader coverage on China's healthcare advances, including the use of domestically developed surgical robotics, and notes the treatment of an international patient as underlining both the level of care in Chongqing and its accessibility.

What was achieved

Juan underwent a 90-minute minimally invasive surgery on January 30 assisted by a domestically developed orthopedic robotic system. A team of 10 experts and doctors led by Shui Wei, deputy director of the hospital's orthopedics department, carried out the procedure. He was able to sit up within three days and was discharged after five days.

Juan stated on February 4 while in the inpatient ward: "The experience was very positive. You can see I am good and feeling no pain … it's so surreal." Shui Wei suggested that with adherence to a proper rehabilitation program, Juan could be on his feet in a month, walk unassisted in three months, and potentially return to extreme sports.

How it works

Pelvic fractures involve breaks in the ring of bones that connects the spine to the legs and can be located near critical blood vessels, nerves and organs, complicating surgical access. Traditional approaches to unstable pelvic fractures often require larger incisions to allow direct visualization and fixation, which can be associated with greater blood loss and longer recovery.

The robotic system integrates preoperative 3D scanning to create a model for planning screw trajectories with real-time navigation and a robotic arm during the procedure. This enabled precise guidance for internal fixation through a 7-centimeter incision in the front and two 2-millimeter wounds in the back. Related coverage of the case and similar procedures at the hospital describe this as achieving sub-millimeter accuracy while reducing surgical trauma relative to conventional methods.

What it means for international patients

The hospital has been designated among the first batch of institutions in Chongqing for international medical services. It operates an International (VIP) Ward at its Jinshan Campus oriented toward foreign patients, residents from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, and others with similar needs. Services include teams with overseas experience, bilingual Chinese-English support, a 24-hour consultation line, assistance with appointments, and English-language medical services.

The hospital has reported treating patients from countries including the United States, Australia and Japan. International patients considering care should contact the hospital directly to confirm eligibility, service availability at specific campuses, and individual suitability, as these details must be verified on a case-by-case basis.

About the hospital

The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University was established in 1957 by experts relocated from the former Shanghai First Medical College. It is a Class-A tertiary general teaching hospital affiliated with Chongqing Medical University, with multiple campuses including the Yuanjiagang Campus in Yuzhong District, Chongqing.

It operates 59 clinical, medical technology and platform departments with 4,616 authorized beds. Orthopedics is one of its 23 national key clinical specialties. The hospital has ranked first in Chongqing for six consecutive years in the National Tertiary Public Hospital Performance Evaluation and remains among the nation's top-tier hospitals. It engages in international academic exchanges and treats patients from multiple countries.