Jonathan Schaeffer (L), general manager of Cleveland Clinic, shakes hands with Ye Zhou, president of Karamay Central Hospital, during the opening ceremony for the Karamay branch of Cleveland Telemedicine Center, on April 5. [Photo by Dai Xuhu/kelamayi.com.cn]

In the future, patients in Karamay will be able to make an appointment for international medical treatments by calling 96565 and receive treatment in seven to 15 days based on different illnesses.

The Karamay Academic Forum on International Telemedicine Innovation between China and America convened at Karamay Central hospital in Karamay, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region on April 5, marking the Sino-US international telemedicine platform being online to serve people across the region.

During the launch ceremony, Karamay Central Hospital signed a cooperation agreement with America’s Cleveland Clinic to open a branch of Cleveland Telemedicine Center in Karamay.

Jonathan Schaeffer, general manager of Cleveland Clinic, delivered a speech during the opening ceremony. He expressed his gladness to witness the success of its cooperation with Karamay after three years of efforts.

The online telemedicine platform will serve as a third party to connect Karamay and Cleveland Clinic, which allows the clinic to provide leading medical treatment and suggestions to patients in Karamay and remote regions across Xinjiang, according to Schaeffer.

Zhang Hongyan, mayor of Karamay, noted that the cooperation will not only provide better medical services to local residents but also strengthen exchanges and communication in medical care and promote cooperation between China and the US.

Government officials and hospital representatives from Shanghai, Heilongjiang province and across the region attended the forum. Topics discussed included development trends in telemedicine across the world, the development status of telemedicine in China and how to explore new models of international telemedicine cooperation.