Shanghai Renji Hospital and Singapore's Raffles Medical Group signed a strategic collaboration agreement in Shanghai on March 28, announcing their collaboration to establish a "dual circulation" service system for medical resources.

Through the collaboration, the two sides aim to promote a new model of coordinated development between a Chinese public hospital and an overseas medical group. Such an initiative aligns with the goals set forth in the Healthy China 2030 Plan and inject momentum into Shanghai's ambition to become a hub for international medical tourism.

The cooperation will establish a two-way channel: Raffles Medical Group will introduce its international standard service system to Renji Hospital, providing comprehensive humanistic care, cross-cultural services, and specialized training in multilingual communication. Meanwhile, leveraging Raffles Medical Group's cross-border network, the collaboration will export Renji Hospital's specialized medical technologies and establish a platform for promoting Chinese medical expertise globally.

Founded in 1844, Renji Hospital, which is affiliated with Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, has evolved into a large, comprehensive hospital renowned both domestically and internationally, serving nearly 7 million patients annually.

With five decades of presence in the Asia-Pacific, Raffles Medical Group has its medical network spanning 15 cities and has established direct payment partnerships with nearly 60 insurance companies.

Xia Qiang, president of Renji Hospital, said during the signing ceremony that the institution has always practiced its service philosophy of "medicine knows no borders."

"Through this collaboration, the two parties aim to jointly create an exemplary model of international medical cooperation, combining the Shanghai model and Singapore's experience," said Xia, who is also an academician with the Chinese Academy of Engineering.

Senior executives from Raffles Medical Group stated their commitment to integrating the expertise and experience from both sides to enhance the local patient experience while showcasing China's medical capabilities and medical service standards to international patients.

Wen Daxiang, director of the Shanghai Municipal Health Commission, said this collaboration will further propel the cooperation between high-level public medical institutions and privately-run medical facilities, meeting the diverse and internationalized demands for medical services and providing support when Shanghai is gathering pace to build itself into a hub for international medical tourism.