The Children's Hospital Affiliated with the Zhejiang University School of Medicine in Hangzhou has been designated as the children's regional medical center for East China, according to an official notice published by the National Health Commission on its website on Sept 2.

It is the first-ever regional medical center to be located in Zhejiang province.

According to the notice, the National Health Commission has also designated Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Children's Hospital Affiliated with the Chongqing Medical University, and Xi'an Children's Hospital as children's regional medical centers for Northeast China, South China, Southwest China, and Northwest China, respectively.

The new regional centers will strengthen cooperation with each other as well as the National Children's Medical Center and will play a leading role in improving medical treatment for children, training, research, and disease prevention in their respective regions.