In Guangdong province, southern China, an ophthalmologist from the Zhongshan Eye Center uses real-time video signals via a 5G network while operating in Guangzhou. He remotely controls a robotic arm performing a complex subretinal injection in a surgical theater in Urumqi, Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, located 4,200 kilometers away from the control team.
Lin Haotian, director of the Zhongshan Eye Center at Sichuan University, noted that conducting such a procedure remotely using robotics is a clinical breakthrough, as remote robotic intervention of such high precision had not been documented before. Lin explained that the retina is very thin—only 100–300 micrometers thick and divided into 10 layers, making the precise introduction of medication between these two layers an extremely delicate operation.
The application of remote medical robotics in China began in 2019 with the first orthopedic surgery utilizing 5G. In recent years, such remote medical procedures have expanded to various specialties in cities like Beijing, Shanghai, and Zhejiang.
From Local Coverage to National Networks
These advanced remote procedures reflect the broader development of digital healthcare infrastructure across the country. According to the National Health Commission of China, the telemedicine network now covers all cities and counties and is expanding into rural areas. Monitoring data shows that 70% of village health centers have established telemedicine partnerships with higher-level hospitals.
Alongside physical infrastructure, AI-based applications are increasingly integrated into daily clinical processes. At Ruijin Hospital, affiliated with the Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, an AI-based pathology platform helps doctors scan digital slides and identify potential lesions in seconds, a task that manually takes about 40 minutes per slide.
Furthermore, a report by KPMG, a global network of professional consulting firms, indicates that China accounts for over 70% of all published global large language models in medicine. As these domestic digital healthcare tools mature, elements of the technology, equipment, and operational structures are gradually being adapted for international healthcare partnerships.
Smart Infrastructure and Clinical Application Abroad
As China's telemedicine infrastructure and domestic medical devices continue to improve, these technological solutions are increasingly incorporated into international healthcare cooperation, especially among BRICS nations.
In São Paulo, Brazil, the first state 'smart' hospital is under construction as part of the University of São Paulo hospital complex. This 800-bed facility, financed by a long-term loan of $320 million from the New Development Bank (NDB) and local funds, is planned to open in 2029. The project, developed with technical cooperation from Chinese partners, will include 5G-connected emergency care, AI triage, and automated surgical control.
Dilma Rousseff, Chair of the NDB, noted that the project serves as a model for public health technology transfer, while Brazil's Minister of Health, Alexandre Padilha, emphasized the importance of international technical cooperation in modernizing public health infrastructure.
Beyond hospital infrastructure, Chinese medical equipment and diagnostic tools are finding expanded clinical application abroad. In April 2024, clinical teams from the Sanya Cardiovascular Hospital, affiliated with Sanya University, used Chinese-made medical devices to perform the first local transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) procedures in Brazil and Salvador. By August 2024, teams completed the first TAVR procedure in eastern Indonesia and conducted the first percutaneous intra-arterial lithotripsy (IVL) procedure in that country. In September 2025, the first IVL procedure involving Chinese assistance was performed in Vietnam. These initial procedures using innovative equipment demonstrate the growing role of domestic medical technologies in international clinical practice.
In the commercial biotechnology sector, a company from Fujian has opened a localized laboratory in São Paulo to provide lower-cost genetic screening for breast cancer—a prevalent health issue in Brazil. According to the company, by August 2025, partnerships had been established with nearly 20 institutions in BRICS countries.
Talent Development and Strengthening Political Dialogue
In addition to medical equipment and infrastructure, human resource development and clinical training remain central elements of international medical cooperation. The Sanya Cardiovascular Hospital launched an internship program offering clinical training for foreign cardiologists lasting from 6 to 12 months. By October 2025, 28 doctors from 13 countries, including Brazil, Russia, India, Indonesia, and Egypt, had completed the training. Upon returning to their home institutions, some participants took on key surgical roles, such as performing emergency interventions for acute myocardial infarction.
Official political frameworks continue to guide these multilateral initiatives. China has participated in BRICS Health Ministers' meetings since the first summit in 2011. At the 15th meeting in June 2025, Go Yanhun, Deputy Minister of the NHC of China, stated that China has implemented a health-oriented development strategy to promote the 'Healthy China' initiative and facilitate coordinated management in the fields of medical services, pharmaceuticals, and health insurance.
According to Go, China intends to work with BRICS members and partner countries to strengthen policy dialogue, align actions in healthcare, and deepen exchanges in medical fields.