This feature article explores the similarities and differences in the medical education and health care systems of modern China compared with those of the Western world. It explores how a system interacts with, and adapts to, the political and social structure of its population and the challenges that can arise from this. 

The authors were part of a medical school exchange program to the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University Guangzhou where they observed the inner workings of the hospital. The authors have drawn their observations from their experiences attending lectures, taking patient histories and observing cases during their rotations through each department of the First Affiliated Hospital. The experience gave the authors insight into how healthcare and education can vary between each country and the factors controlling this. 

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