The affiliated hospital of Sun Yat-sen University was originally a affiliated hospital of Sun Yat-sen Medical University, which belongs to a school-run enterprise. After being merged into Sun Yat-sen University, Sun Yat-sen Medical University became the affiliated hospital of Sun Yat-sen University. CUHK Affiliated Hospital is the main place for outstanding medical students of Sun Yat-sen University to practice, and it relies on the scientific research strength of School of Medicine of Sun Yat-sen University to carry out medical research. At present, Sun Yat-sen University has the first affiliated hospital, the second affiliated hospital, the third affiliated hospital, ophthalmology, stomatology, oncology, the fifth affiliated hospital and the sixth affiliated hospital, five of which are in Zhuhai.

Other universities have them. For example, the First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University is the former Overseas Chinese Hospital, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Pharmaceutical University is the former Xinhai Hospital, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical College is the former Fourth People's Hospital of Guangzhou, and the first, second and third hospitals and cancer hospitals under Guangzhou Medical College.