The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine (FAHZU)
浙江大学医学院附属第一医院
The earliest affiliated hospital of Zhejiang University, founded in 1947, with a separate International Healthcare Center building offering English records and international insurance billing. It drew wide attention in 2025 after a US architect posted about his spine and cataract surgeries there.
Documented strengths
- International Healthcare Center occupies an independent building of about 20,000 square meters with 84 single-occupancy inpatient rooms (hospital site)
- Hospital says the center is the only institution in Zhejiang approved for a pilot pricing reform of international medical services (hospital site)
- American architect Robert Noble, 73, was treated for four conditions here within two years, including a minimally invasive lumbar spine procedure and cataract surgery on both eyes (Xinhua, March 2026)
- Ranked 2nd in China in the National Health Commission performance review of public hospitals, per the hospital homepage
- Building a National Medical Center and a National Medical Center for Infectious Diseases (hospital site)
Services for international patients
- One-on-one international patient coordinators (hospital site)
- English medical records, imaging reports and summaries (hospital site)
- Direct billing for high-end international commercial insurance (hospital site)
- Language assistance mainly for English, Japanese, Korean, German, French and Uighur (hospital site)
- Appointments at least one day ahead
How international patients access it
The hospital runs a listed international department; contact it directly before traveling, and expect RMB or commercial-insurance billing. The hospital decides each case.
Patient stories
73-year-old American architect has spine surgery and cataract operations on both eyes in Hangzhou
Videos
3 videos
1:00Welcome to the International Healthcare Center in Hangzhou, China!Official · 浙大一院国际保健中心 · 189 views
3:05A German doctor travels to Zhejiang to learn and exchange expertiseMedia · Fresh Sight · 3,961 views
5:50The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University - Hematology Bone Marrow Transplantation CenterMedia · WebsEdgeMedicine · 646 views
Sources
- International Healthcare Center
“It is currently the only medical institution in Zhejiang Province approved for a pilot pricing reform of international medical services, reflecting its leadership in the development of international healthcare in China.”
- China emerging as cost-effective healthcare destination for foreign patients
“Within two years, he was treated for four conditions at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, undergoing three surgeries -- a minimally invasive lumbar spine procedure and cataract operations on both eyes.”
Also in Hangzhou
HangzhouSir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine浙江大学医学院附属邵逸夫医院International deptJCIVerified
HangzhouZhejiang Cancer Hospital (Cancer Hospital of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)浙江省肿瘤医院（中国科学院大学附属肿瘤医院）No public intl deptVerified
HangzhouHangzhou Stomatology Hospital杭州口腔医院No public intl deptUnverified
Information only. Not medical advice, diagnosis or a treatment recommendation. Talk to your doctor. In an emergency, call your local emergency number.