Chongqing - In a pioneering step for integrative healthcare in the municipality, the first cross-hospital “Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine Clinic” officially opened on November 25. The innovative clinic is a joint initiative between The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University and Chongqing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

The landmark facility, located at the Yuanjiagang campus of The First Affiliated Hospital, is designed to provide a seamless patient experience. Individuals can now see senior experts from both medical disciplines concurrently by making a single appointment and visiting just one location, eliminating the need to navigate between separate hospitals.

The clinic has initially introduced three specialized units: the Hematology Integrated Clinic, the Psychiatry Integrated Clinic, and the Airway Stenosis & Early-Stage Lung Cancer Integrated Clinic. This model is expected to create a synergistic effect greater than the sum of its parts by pooling the distinct strengths of the two leading hospitals.

Professor Wang Li, Chief Physician and Professor in the Department of Hematology, expressed strong support for the new model during an interview. “This integrated approach of TCM and Western medicine is truly novel,” Professor Wang said. “While the two disciplines may differ in methodology, their core objective—healing the patient—is fundamentally the same. This is a model worth promoting and learning from.”

She also highlighted a personal commitment to the model, adding, “I plan to deepen my understanding of TCM principles and integrate them into my clinical practice, ultimately aiming to select the most suitable treatment strategies for my patients.”

The launch of this clinic marks a significant step forward in Chongqing’s healthcare landscape, signaling a growing institutional commitment to integrative medicine that prioritizes both patient convenience and improved clinical outcomes.