A volunteer helps a patient at the Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine in Yiwu. [Photo/jinhua.com.cn]

Recently at the Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine in Yiwu county-level city, Jinhua, Zhejiang province, international students in green vests adeptly switched between Chinese and English to offer assistance to both Chinese and foreign patients.

On May 29, the hospital welcomed its first group of four trained international students from Yiwu Industrial & Commercial College as "medical guides". The students navigate the hospital's halls, providing consultations, guidance, and assistance with self-service machines, easing language barriers for foreign patients.

Located in Yiwu which boasts more than 20,000 resident foreign merchants and has nearly 600,000 annual visits from over 100 countries and regions, the hospital has embraced its role as a hub for international healthcare.

Last year, it treated foreign patients 19,950 times, with 23 foreign babies born at the facility.

The influx of foreign patients, including those who specially fly to Yiwu for treatment, has spurred the hospital to enhance its international medical services.

Initiatives include an international outpatient department, the recruitment of full-time foreign doctors, and collaborations with top institutions in 17 countries to foster international medical talent.

To further streamline services, the hospital now offers document-based registration, appointments, and medical records access to foreign patients. Partnerships with 22 foreign-related insurance companies and bilingual self-service machines further facilitate the care.

Currently, the hospital has more than 600 social volunteers. The addition of international student volunteers has enriched the volunteer program.