Yiwu introduces international outpatient guidelines and bilingual medical reports

Yiwu announced an international medical service system on June 29, 2026, bringing outpatient standards, language support and insurance arrangements into a citywide initiative. The Zhejiang government’s English-language report, published on July 2, sets out services for the city’s foreign residents and visitors, including care beyond a single hospital visit.

Four hospitals offer international clinics

The Yiwu International Medical Service Guidelines (Trial) standardize international outpatient care. Four leading hospitals in the city have international clinics, including the Fourth Affiliated Hospital of the Zhejiang University School of Medicine.

The initiative covers the full care process and different stages of life. Alongside outpatient treatment, the services described include maternal and child healthcare, vaccination and traditional Chinese medicine experiences. Yiwu has also facilitated short-term practice licensing for foreign doctors, with seven registered in the city at the time of the announcement.

Bilingual reports and multilingual volunteers

Twenty-three medical institutions have upgraded facilities to make them more accessible to foreign patients. The city has introduced an AI bilingual medical report system and formed a multilingual volunteer team to support communication.

These measures serve a substantial resident and visiting population: Yiwu has around 38,000 foreign merchants living in the city and receives nearly 680,000 international visitors annually. In 2025, its medical institutions recorded more than 71,000 visits by foreign patients, up 27 percent from the previous year and approximately one-third of Zhejiang’s total foreign patient visits.

Insurance arrangements alongside clinical care

Yiwu is developing a model linking medical services with commercial insurance. Cooperation with 22 international insurance companies is intended to make payment and claims processes easier. The government account describes reduced prepayment and simpler claims procedures.

The insurance cooperation forms part of the wider service arrangements, alongside the international clinics, language assistance and maternal, child and vaccination services. Participation by an insurer does not establish coverage for every policy or treatment.