3 Shanghai Community Health Service Centres Receive WONCA Practice Accreditation
Yinhang, Dapuqiao and Gumei recognised for high standards in family medicine and patient-centred care
Brussels, 10 August 2026 – The World Organization of Family Doctors (WONCA) has awarded Practice Accreditation to three community health service centres in Shanghai: the Yinhang Community Health Service Centre in Yangpu District, the Dapuqiao Community Health Service Centre in Huangpu District, and the Gumei Community Health Service Centre in Minhang District. Each centre was granted a five-year accreditation after meeting the WONCA Global Standards for Practice Accreditation in full.
The accreditations followed a structured assessment of each centre, combining a virtual review in April 2026 with an in-person visit in May 2026. The assessments were led by Professor Samuel Wong, Chinese University of Hong Kong, and Professor José Maria Valderas, National University of Singapore. Dr Donald Li, Past President of WONCA and Honorary Professor at Fudan University, joined the on-site visits, alongside faculty from Fudan University's Zhongshan Hospital and senior district health officials.
The WONCA Global Standards examine four areas of practice: practitioners, patients, provider activity, and premises. In each case, the review teams followed the full patient journey through the centre, from reception through diagnostics to consultation, to see how care is coordinated when a visit involves several services such as laboratory or imaging.
Yinhang Community Health Service Centre, Yangpu District
Yinhang Community Health Service Centre is the first community health service centre in Yangpu District to receive WONCA Practice Accreditation. The centre is staffed by 59 general practitioners, all of whom have completed general practice training and hold the corresponding qualifications, including 25 who have completed standardised general practice residency training.
The centre uses a secure Electronic Health Records system with automatic flagging of abnormal results, supporting timely follow-up by clinicians. Through a Health Cloud application, general practitioners provide dietary guidance and resident health assessments and respond to patients' health queries. Weekend and extended-hour outpatient services offer convenient access, and the centre integrates Traditional Chinese Medicine, women's health, and preventive services on a single site. The in-person assessment was conducted by Professor Valderas on 8 May 2026.
Cui Ming, Director of Yinhang Community Health Service Centre, said:
"The WONCA Practice Accreditation is not only a comprehensive review benchmarked against international standards, but also a valuable opportunity to re-evaluate ourselves. Through this process, we have raised the standardisation of our services and gained a deep appreciation of how advanced international general practice concepts can guide our work at the community level."
Gou Ruhu, Deputy District Mayor of Yangpu District, said:
"We hope the centre will take this as an opportunity to incorporate the experts' feedback, continue to strengthen its primary healthcare capabilities, and serve as a pioneer in Yangpu's primary healthcare sector, providing residents with high-quality, efficient, and compassionate medical services."
Dapuqiao Community Health Service Centre, Huangpu District
Dapuqiao Community Health Service Centre serves a residential population of approximately 55,200 people and handles around 410,000 outpatient visits each year across four community health service stations. All 46 of its general practitioners work as family doctors within the centre.
The centre operates 365 days a year, offering daytime, evening and public holiday hours. Its facilities include a General Practice Teaching Clinic, a Chronic Disease Management Centre, a Cloud Consultation Room, and departments for radiology, laboratory services, and Traditional Chinese Medicine, together with a dental clinic and a standardised minor surgery unit. The in-person assessment was conducted by Professor Wong and Professor Valderas on 9 May 2026.
The team at Dapuqiao Community Health Service Centre reflected on the process:
"The WONCA accreditation review served as a comprehensive inspection of Dapuqiao Community Health Service Centre's general practice services, faculty teaching capabilities, talent management systems, and facility infrastructure. More importantly, it was a step in benchmarking against international standards and promoting the deep integration of community general practice with family medicine. We are grateful to the expert reviewers for their comprehensive, in-depth, and meticulous assessment and feedback based on their international perspective and professional standards. These valuable suggestions not only provide an accurate portrait of our recent explorations and practices but also point the way for our future high-quality development."
Gumei Community Health Service Centre, Minhang District
Gumei Community Health Service Centre serves a residential population of approximately 166,000 people and handles around 600,000 outpatient visits each year across eight community health service stations. The centre is staffed by 95 doctors, including 52 general practitioners, of whom 35 work as family doctors.
The centre houses a General Practice Teaching Centre, a Chronic Disease Management Centre, a community rehabilitation centre, nursing and radiology departments, a modern dental clinic, and a standardised minor surgery unit. It provides both scheduled appointments and same-day care, operates every day of the year, and integrates Traditional Chinese Medicine and preventive services within the centre. The in-person assessment was conducted by Professor Wong and Professor Valderas on 9 May 2026.
Shared strengths across the three centres
Across all three centres, the assessors noted a consistent commitment to patient privacy through a policy of one doctor, one patient, one consulting room, supported by private consulting rooms and privacy screens around examination areas. Each centre conducts regular patient satisfaction surveys and maintains a documented complaints procedure, and each operates its own pharmacy run by qualified pharmacists. Patients with formalised health contracts can contact their general practitioner directly through WeChat, supporting continuity of care and quick access to advice.
Assessors commend quality and person-centred care
Professor Samuel Wong, WONCA Accreditation Assessor, said:
"It was a privilege to conduct these WONCA Practice Accreditation visits to the Dapuqiao, Gumei and Yinhang Community Health Service Centres in Shanghai. All three centres demonstrated an outstanding commitment to quality, patient-centred care, and the highest standards of family medicine practice. Their dedicated teams of general practitioners and community nurses exemplify what primary care can and should be: accessible, comprehensive, and deeply rooted in the needs of their communities. These accreditations are not merely a recognition of achievement; they are an inspiration to primary care providers across China and the wider Asia-Pacific region. I am confident that these centres will continue to serve as models of excellence, advancing the vision of WONCA to improve the quality of life of people through the highest standards of family medicine."
Professor José Maria Valderas, WONCA Accreditation Assessor, said:
"I was impressed with the high level at which these practices were operating, in some aspects, particularly in the use of AI, contributing to defining the global standard for family practice. Beyond the technical qualities, their person-centred orientation and their careful and thoughtful consideration of patients' needs was also remarkable and inspirational. I am honoured to be part of WONCA accreditation efforts, which make a real difference to professionals and the populations they serve by supporting primary care centres in ensuring rigorous standards of care."
Dr Harris Lygidakis, CEO of WONCA, said:
"The WONCA Accreditation Program recognises primary care practices that are committed to excellence, and the achievements of these three centres reflect exactly that. Yinhang, Dapuqiao and Gumei have each shown how strong leadership, safe systems and a genuine focus on patients can raise the standard of community-based care. We congratulate their teams and look forward to supporting their continued development."
About WONCA Accreditation
WONCA's Accreditation Program supports clinics, training centres, and digital health services to strengthen quality in family medicine worldwide. Through document reviews, interviews, and dedicated on-site assessments, the programme helps organisations benchmark their performance and plan for long-term development. Practice Accreditation recognises strong leadership, safe systems, patient-centred care, and a commitment to continuous improvement. Healthcare institutions interested in learning more or beginning their accreditation journey can visit accreditation.wonca.com.
About WONCA
The World Organization of Family Doctors (WONCA) is committed to improving the quality of life of the peoples of the world through high standards of care in family medicine. WONCA provides accreditation, consulting, and support to healthcare organisations worldwide, helping them align with best practices in primary care.
WONCA congratulates the three centres
WONCA warmly congratulates the teams at Yinhang, Dapuqiao and Gumei Community Health Service Centres on their accreditation. Their work reflects both the strength of primary care development in China and the shared global ambition to deliver high-quality, person-centred services for every community.