Western and traditional Chinese medicine used together to maximize benefits
With the commitment to creating a warmhearted hospital in Wuhan, Hubei province, Wuhan No 1 Hospital has developed a series of themed medical projects and patient-centered departments, after years of dedication to integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine treatment.
In the dermatology department of the hospital, chief physician Tian Liming diagnosed and prescribed treatment for a patient surnamed Wu. Accompanied with a traditional Chinese herbal decoction and an external recombinant human epidermal growth factor gel, Tian suggested the treatment should be supplemented with pulsed dye laser and micro-drop injection of botulinum toxin. After two courses of treatment, Wu's facial symptoms disappeared.
Such integrated TCM-Western medicine approaches are now standard here. The department handles more than 1.4 million annual visits — one-sixth of Hubei's dermatology cases — ranking among China's top clinical service providers. Leveraging 32 standardized formulas, 49 hospital-developed preparations, 41 TCM techniques, and modern therapies, it delivers evidence-based integrated care.
Since exploring integrated TCM-Western medicine approaches in 1985, the hospital has embraced the philosophy: TCM builds reputation, Western medicine offers strengths. The two's integration maximizes advantages. Use Chinese medicine where it is appropriate, use Western medicine where it is appropriate, and give equal weight to traditional Chinese and Western medicines, according to the hospital's vice-president Fan Xuepeng.
The hospital has established more than 150 integrated protocols for TCM-dominant diseases. The dermatology, gastroenterology and neurology departments have been selected as national flagships for integrated TCM-Western medicine approaches. Seven departments, including the nephrology and geriatrics, have established national-level TCM-dominant specialties.
In 2023, through a joint review by the National Development and Reform Commission, the National Health Commission, and the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, the hospital was selected as a pilot for the construction of a national hospital with integrated TCM-Western medicine.
At the Liji Road campus of the Wuhan No 1 Hospital, construction projects for the dermatology specialty building and comprehensive medical treatment building are underway. As one of the city's key livelihood projects, this project aims to expand high-quality healthcare access.
Chen Liuqing, director of the dermatology department at the hospital, explained that with the policy support for the development of distinctive specialties in Wuhan's city-level hospitals, the dermatology department will follow the path of developing into a subspecialty center. Building on the research foundation of more than 20 specialized diseases, the department will integrate and form eight diagnosis and treatment centers. Leveraging high-level research platforms, such as provincial key laboratories, the hospital is establishing a renowned dermatology research institute in Wuhan under an integrated clinical-research model, and is set to become a national hub for complex case management, clinical trials and specialist training.
Apart from dermatology, the hospital's rehabilitation medicine department, which is serving more than 40 percent of non-local patients, is experiencing strong momentum in development. Currently, the hospital is constructing four clinical centers including neurorehabilitation and spinal rehabilitation, two treatment centers for hyperbaric oxygen and hydrotherapy, as well as two platforms. They formed a collaborative rehabilitation system integrating TCM and Western medicine.
To benefit more patients, on July 2, Wuhan No 1 Hospital signed an agreement with Yangxin County Traditional Chinese Hospital in Huangshi city, Hubei province, to jointly formalize a tiered healthcare alliance. On the day of the signing, nearly 20 Party member doctors conducted free clinics, teaching surgeries, and academic exchanges at the Yangxin hospital, benefiting more than 800 patients.
As one of China's 30 designated China-Africa paired hospital cooperation institutions, Wuhan No 1 Hospital supports healthcare development in Lesotho, a small country in southern Africa. In April 2024, Lesotho's Deputy Prime Minister Nthomeng Majara led a delegation to deepen the medical collaboration.
"No matter where we are, we hope to bring 'warmth' to patients," said Zhang Li, team leader of the 18th batch of medical aid to Lesotho from Hubei province and deputy chief anesthesiologist of the hospital. In Lesotho, located 20,000 kilometers away from Wuhan, he and his team pioneered projects such as ultrasound-guided nerve blocks. Every month, the medical team provides free medical examinations for residents in remote areas.
From the construction of medical alliances to rural vitalization, from aiding Xinjiang Uygur and Xizang autonomous regions to supporting Africa, under the leadership of Party-building concepts, Wuhan No 1 Hospital collaborates with multiple participants to create a medical circle, spreading warmth beyond Wuhan.
The hospital also pioneers green channels for patients who suffer a stroke. When a patient surnamed Li showed sudden limb weakness with a suspected stroke, the hospital's cloud-connected ambulance alerted neurologist Wang Yuegu, who activated a green channel involving priority triage, rapid imaging and immediate thrombolysis which bypassed payment formalities.
This 24/7 stroke rescue pathway features dedicated response teams and innovations involving internet of things to gain lifesaving minutes. "Stroke treatment races against time," Wang said.
Driven by the commitment of duty and medical expertise of the Party members, the hospital's neurology Party branch led a 54-institution regional stroke alliance. It has updated three editions of Wuhan's stroke emergency navigation maps and built a high-efficiency network across Central China, with nationally ranked neuro-interventional capabilities.
