Approximately four months ago, a significant surgical operation was conducted for a patient suffering from oropharyngeal cancer in Bijie, a city located in Southwest China's Guizhou province. This operation, which successfully removed the tumor, highlights the positive impact of the recently opened Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital Bijie Hospital, designed to provide advanced medical care to the region.

Unveiled in November, this public Grade III comprehensive hospital is a product of a collaborative effort between the local government of Guizhou and a hospital from Zhejiang province. The primary goal of this facility is to ensure that residents in Bijie and its neighboring areas have access to high-quality healthcare close to home.

Bijie, home to over 6.7 million people, has historically grappled with healthcare challenges such as an uneven distribution of medical resources, a lack of superior medical facilities, and a shortage of skilled medical professionals. As a result, individuals with serious or rare health conditions often found themselves traveling long distances to obtain necessary treatment.

In response to these healthcare deficiencies, the governments of Guizhou and Zhejiang entered into an agreement in November 2022 to develop the joint hospital. The successful surgery on the oropharyngeal cancer patient was performed by a team from Zhejiang, headed by Ge Minghua, who is affiliated with the Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital.

Ge Minghua, also involved with the Chinese Peasants and Workers Democratic Party, previously visited Bijie in August 2022 to deliver academic lectures and surgical demonstrations. During his visit, he met with Zhang Guangqi from Guizhou, and together they discussed strategies for leveraging the skills of their party members to improve social healthcare services.

This conversation ultimately led to a shared vision for establishing the joint hospital, focusing on improving access to quality medical care and ensuring a more equitable distribution of healthcare resources across the region. Following this agreement, the initiative was launched, featuring a two-phase project with an investment of 2.3 billion yuan (approximately $328 million). The first phase included setting up 1,000 hospital beds, with future plans to expand capacity to 1,960 beds.

To date, over 30 key medical professionals from the Zhejiang hospital have been assigned to the Bijie facility, serving in critical roles such as department heads and head nurses. Additionally, a talent cultivation program has been initiated at the hospital to foster the development of skilled healthcare personnel in the region.