Chengdu
West China Hospital, Sichuan University
One of the largest single-site hospitals in the world, with 4,900 licensed beds, 43 national key clinical specialties — more than any other hospital in China — and a research output that ranks first in the country. Strong across almost every specialty, and notably cheaper than Beijing or Shanghai for equivalent care.
West China Hospital, Sichuan University
Ranked 6th globally and 1st in China in the Nature Index healthcare institutions list.
West China Hospital in Chengdu is one of the largest single-site hospitals in the world: 4,900 licensed beds, 220,000 operations and 7.5 million outpatient visits a year. It holds 43 national key clinical specialties, more than any other hospital in China, and ranks first among Chinese healthcare institutions in the Nature Index for research output.
Size changes what is possible. A hospital this large can run a full service in almost every specialty rather than concentrating on a few, which means a patient with more than one problem does not have to be transferred between institutions. It also means the cost per procedure is materially lower than in Beijing or Shanghai for equivalent care.
The trade-off is that West China is less of a destination for a single rare diagnosis than PUMCH, and more of a place where a large, complicated, multi-specialty case can be handled end to end. For patients paying out of pocket it is usually the best value in the country.
Founded 1892.
Best for
- Complex cases involving more than one specialty
- Major abdominal, hepatobiliary and transplant surgery
- Neurosurgery and oncology at high volume
- Patients whose main constraint is cost
Not the right choice for
- —A single rare diagnosis that needs a national reference opinion — PUMCH is the better route
- —Cardiac surgery — Fuwai and Anzhen do more
Departments we refer to most
- Department of Gastroenterology
Endoscopy and hepatology at very high volume, with the surgical backup on the same campus. - Neurosurgery
Glioma, skull-base tumours and cerebrovascular disease, with intraoperative imaging on site. - Department of Critical Care Medicine
The ICU capacity that lets a hospital this size accept cases other centres decline. - Oncology
Comprehensive cancer care — surgery, systemic treatment, radiotherapy and multidisciplinary review under one roof. - Department of Rehabilitation Medicine
Post-surgical and neurological rehabilitation, inpatient and outpatient — relevant for anyone staying longer than the operation itself.
Direct flight times to Chengdu
Approximate non-stop durations. A coordinator books transfers from the airport to your hotel and to every appointment.
Practical notes
Chengdu is cheaper than Beijing or Shanghai for accommodation and transport as well as for care. Two airports: Tianfu now carries most international traffic, Shuangliu is closer to the centre.
Chengdu is cheaper than Beijing or Shanghai for accommodation and transport as well as for care. Two airports: Tianfu now carries most international traffic, Shuangliu is closer to the centre.
Key facts
| City | Chengdu |
|---|---|
| Address | 成都市武侯区国学巷37号（主院区） |
| Accreditation | Tier-3 public, national referral centre |
| Licensed beds | 4,900 |
| Annual surgeries | 220K |
| Annual outpatients | 7.5M |
| Languages supported | Chinese, English, Japanese |
| Official site | www.wchscu.cn/index.html |
Our honest position
Cost guides for this hospital
What each condition costs here, and what the figure excludes.
Other hospitals in this city
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