It once conducted dual-degree MD, DMD, BA, and BS programs with the State University of New York since 1920s and 1930s.

Under a higher education institution reformation plan directed by the Central People's Government of China, the university was deprived of other academic departments and turned into Sichuan Medical College (四川医学院) with sole focus on medical studies in 1953.

Four affiliated teaching hospitals respectively concentrate on comprehensive medical sciences, women and children's health, dentistry, and occupational disease treatment.

On September 23, 1933, West China Union University was registered with the Provincial Board of Education.

West China Medical Center of Sichuan University is situated in Chengdu, in the downtown area on the banks of Jin River.

[11] West China Medical Center of Sichuan University has cooperative agreements with 150 universities from 43 countries and regions such as the US, the UK, Canada, the Netherlands, Japan, Germany, Finland, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Australia.

West China Medical Center of Sichuan University has four affiliated hospitals.