Mr Li, a resident at the outpatient hall of Hohhot First Hospital, easily registered for a consultation with a specialist from Beijing. "It's so convenient to see top doctors right here in Hohhot," he said. This convenience reflects the city's ongoing efforts to improve healthcare accessibility through continuous medical reform and high-quality development initiatives.

In recent years, Hohhot has prioritized improving patients' healthcare experience by refining its medical service system. The city has invested over 5 billion yuan ($700.38 million) to build 16 major healthcare projects. Through regional coordination, 248 medical test results are now mutually recognized across hospitals, while 21 internet hospitals serve more than 700,000 patients annually, improving service efficiency.

Reforms have also significantly reduced medical costs. For example, the average hospital stay for stroke patients has been shortened from 28 to 22 days, lowering costs from about 18,000 yuan to 12,000 yuan. Centralized procurement of medicines and medical supplies has saved 3.72 billion yuan, with average prices cut by over 50 percent. In emergency response, 5G-connected mobile ICU ambulances have reduced the city's average response time from 26 minutes to just 10.

The improved tiered diagnosis and treatment system is also revitalizing hospitals in counties and townships. In Qingshuihe County Hospital, Dr Zhang Hui performed the county's first vascular intervention surgery under the guidance of specialists from the Hohhot First Hospital. "The medical consortium gives us strong support, and patients no longer need to travel far for treatment," Zhang said.

Currently, 147 expert teams from Beijing and other regions regularly provide medical services in Hohhot, with around 15,000 expert consultations each year. In 2024, the number of patients traveling to Hohhot for medical care reached 3.34 million – a 176 percent year-on-year increase – highlighting the city's growing role as a regional medical hub.