A Level 1 hospital usually refers to the top national hospitals, with the most advanced equipment and treatment technology, and the highest level of medical service capacity in the country. Level II hospitals, on the other hand, are slightly weaker in size and capacity compared to Level I hospitals, but can still provide more comprehensive medical services, including diagnosis and treatment of common diseases, surgery and post-operative management. In comparison, secondary hospitals may be closer to the needs of the general public and families, and are able to provide good quality medical services at relatively affordable prices.
In the hierarchical system of medical services, tertiary hospitals are generally general hospitals at the municipal level in various places, which are larger in scale, more complete in facilities and richer in specialists than secondary hospitals. They have a very important position in the medical profession, undertaking tasks such as medical technology research, treatment of difficult diseases, consultation and diagnosis of difficult and complicated diseases, and playing an absolutely dominant role in the emergency and initial treatment of minor diseases. Many clinical researches are also conducted in tertiary hospitals, enriching the knowledge base in the field of clinical medicine and playing a vital role in promoting the development of the industry.
In general, secondary and tertiary hospitals have an important mission in the healthcare delivery system. Compared with Level 1 hospitals, they may have lower operating costs, and thus their services are more relevant to the needs of the general public; their medical strength and scientific research level are also improving, making an important contribution to the improvement of the regional healthcare service system. Both secondary and tertiary hospitals are one of the most trusted medical protection for the people, and are of great significance to the improvement of the national healthcare level and the health of the people.