On December 26, 2024, the preparatory symposium of the Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Professional Committee of the China Association of Private Medical Institutions (hereinafter referred to as the “Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Committee”) was successfully held in Nanjing. The meeting aimed to comprehensively integrate high-quality resources in the field of hyperbaric oxygen medicine, pool the wisdom and strength of industry experts and representatives nationwide, and forge consensus to define the future work plan for establishing the Committee, thereby ensuring the orderly and effective advancement of all preparatory efforts.

Group photo

Attending the meeting were Hao Deming, Executive Vice President and Secretary-General of the association; Wang Shan, Deputy Secretary-General and Director of the Membership Organization Department; Yang Zixu, Deputy Director of the Membership Organization Department; Ge Jiangping, a principal initiator of the Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Specialized Committee and President of Nanjing Zijin Hospital; Professor Li Jinsheng, former Chairman of the Hyperbaric Oxygen Medicine Branch of the Chinese Medical Association and leader of the hyperbaric oxygen therapy department at Nanjing Zijin Hospital; Professor Long Ying, the current Chairman of the Hyperbaric Oxygen Medicine Branch of the Chinese Medical Association and consultant to the Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Department of Shenzhen People’s Hospital; as well as representatives from institutions including Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Nanjing Mingji Hospital, Shenzhen Hengsheng Hospital, Chengdu Gulián Hetai Rehabilitation Hospital, Shanghai Hebin Rehabilitation Hospital, Yantai Hongyuan Oxygen Industry Co., Ltd., the Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shenyang Yongsen Hospital, Chengdu BOE Hospital, Dalian Kangyang Group Rehabilitation Hospital, Zhaoqing Zhengda National Health Rehabilitation Hospital, the First Affiliated Hospital of Navy Medical University, the 940th Hospital of the Joint Logistics Support Force, Baoji High-tech Hospital, Xi’an Daxing Hospital, Zhengzhou Yihe Hospital, Xi’an High-tech Hospital, the Second People’s Hospital of Zhengzhou, Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha Huacheng Rehabilitation Hospital, Xiangya Bo’ai Rehabilitation Hospital, the First People’s Hospital of Hefei, Qianhai Life Insurance Nanning Hospital, Nanjing Zijin Hospital, Weifang Huaxin Oxygen Industry Co., Ltd., and Fuzhi Oxygen (Nanjing) Medical Device Co., Ltd. The meeting was chaired by Wang Shan.

Executive Vice President and Secretary-General Hao Deming delivered a speech.

At the outset of the symposium, President Hao Deming delivered a clear and insightful address, offering a comprehensive analysis of the current state of China’s healthcare sector. He began by outlining the fundamental characteristics of both public and private medical institutions, then delved into the far-reaching implications of recent healthcare reform policies on the industry. He emphasized that we should seize the opportunity presented by the establishment of the Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Specialized Committee to further standardize professional conduct, strengthen discipline development, and unlock the full potential of the hyperbaric oxygen therapy field. To this end, he urged all participants to contribute their ideas and suggestions. In the future, the committee may establish multiple functional departments as needed, leveraging the unique strengths of its members, while also actively expanding its membership to build industry influence and achieve economies of scale, thereby jointly advancing the growth and development of hyperbaric oxygen medicine.

Deputy Secretary-General Wang Shan chaired the meeting and delivered a report.

Deputy Secretary-General Wang Shan provided a detailed overview of the association’s procedures for establishing branch organizations, including their operational framework, guiding principles, specific tasks, and management systems. As the national industry‑wide governing body for non‑public medical institutions, the association adopts a development strategy that seamlessly integrates market‑oriented mechanisms, guided by the “Four‑Chain” approach: leveraging the industrial chain as the driving force, using the academic chain as the benchmark, centering on the talent chain, and ensuring sustainability through the financial chain. At the same time, the association places equal emphasis on both academia and industry, building an open and equitable platform for exchange that fosters scholarly dialogue while advancing collaboration between medical institutions and enterprises, thereby supporting synergistic development among public and non‑public healthcare providers. She underscored that the Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Specialized Committee must closely align with the current state of industry development, formulate task‑specific initiatives that reflect its unique expertise, and effectively serve as a bridge and conduit, with the aim of promoting the standardized, high‑quality growth of the hyperbaric oxygen therapy sector.

Dean Ge Jiangping delivered a report on the preparatory work.

As the core initiator of the specialized committee, Dean Ge Jiangping, in her “Work Report on the Establishment of the Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Specialized Committee,” provided a detailed account of the committee’s founding rationale, its establishment process, an overview of the founding organizations, and a blueprint for its future work. She emphasized that, given the acute imbalance between surging market demand and insufficient supply in the field of hyperbaric oxygen therapy, the establishment of this specialized committee is particularly urgent. The committee aims to guide the industry toward standardized development, deepen academic exchange, cultivate professional expertise, and broaden public awareness and influence. At the same time, it will prioritize the widespread application of hyperbaric oxygen technology in clinical medicine, striving to deliver more diversified and highly effective healthcare solutions to patients.

Looking ahead, the work plan of the Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Specialized Committee will focus on five core areas: first, regularly organizing high‑level academic conferences to create platforms for knowledge sharing and intellectual exchange; second, scientifically developing clinical practice guidelines and standards for hyperbaric oxygen therapy to provide robust support for the industry’s sustainable development; third, vigorously advancing the establishment of quality‑control centers to ensure the quality and safety of medical care; fourth, comprehensively implementing professional training and educational programs to cultivate a larger pool of skilled practitioners; and fifth, strengthening public outreach and science education to enhance public awareness and confidence in hyperbaric oxygen therapy. These initiatives aim to foster a vibrant, well‑regulated, and efficiently coordinated ecosystem for the advancement of hyperbaric oxygen therapy, thereby delivering greater health benefits to patients.

As the initiating and leading institution of the specialized committee, Nanjing Zijin Hospital has leveraged its longstanding position as a leader in provincial and municipal hyperbaric oxygen therapy, with consistently high annual treatment volumes, to amass extensive practical experience. President Ge stated that Nanjing Zijin Hospital will spare no effort in capitalizing on its strengths in resources, expertise, technology, and influence to ensure the smooth establishment of the committee and to make a positive contribution to the advancement of the hyperbaric oxygen therapy field.

Meeting venue

Participants, drawing on their own experiences and the specific circumstances of their respective institutions, put forward recommendations and engaged in discussions regarding the establishment of the Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Specialized Committee and the tasks it will need to undertake following its formal launch.

Professor Li Jinsheng, former chairman of the Hyperbaric Oxygen Medicine Branch of the Chinese Medical Association and head of the Hyperbaric Oxygen Medicine Department at Nanjing Zijin Hospital, stated that the establishment of the specialized committee will be an inspiring and positive development. He expressed his hope that all the experts present would freely share their insights and offer constructive suggestions to facilitate the committee’s early formation.

Professor Long Ying, Chairperson of the Hyperbaric Oxygen Medicine Branch of the Chinese Medical Association and consultant to the Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Department at Shenzhen People’s Hospital, stated that she hopes to leverage the platform of the Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Specialized Committee to conduct more multi-center clinical studies, thereby providing a solid evidence base for hyperbaric oxygen therapy and better serving the cause of health and the general public.

Professor Guan Yadong, Director of the Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Department at Nanjing Chi-Mei Hospital, commended Nanjing Zijin Hospital for its significant contributions to the development of the hyperbaric oxygen therapy discipline and expressed his sincere appreciation and support for the establishment of the specialized committee and its future work plan.

Cao Yizhan, former deputy director of the Emergency Department at Tangdu Hospital of the Fourth Military Medical University and director of the Emergency Center at Xi’an Daxing Hospital, highlighted from a professional perspective the inseparable and close relationship between emergency medicine and hyperbaric oxygen therapy, emphasizing in particular the critical role that hyperbaric oxygen therapy plays in cases of gas poisoning. He recommended that the Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Specialized Committee should embrace an ethos of openness and integration, actively exploring interdisciplinary collaborations among hyperbaric oxygen therapy, emergency medicine, rehabilitation medicine, neurology, neurosurgery, and other fields, thereby broadening the scope of applications for hyperbaric oxygen therapy and unlocking its full potential and value.

Peng Zhengrong, Director of the Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Department at Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, stated that the Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Specialized Committee is a promising body with significant development potential, and that he will work together with hyperbaric oxygen specialists from Hunan and Jiangxi provinces to contribute to its growth.

Liu Chuanjun, Vice Chairman of the Hyperbaric Oxygen and Emergency Rehabilitation Branch of the Liaoning Provincial Medical Association and Director of the Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Center at Shenyang Yongsen Hospital, believes that establishing the specialized committee on hyperbaric oxygen therapy not only provides a valuable platform for professionals in this field but also offers a sense of belonging to their passion and dedication. He also highlighted the growing proportion of private medical institutions in Liaoning Province and expressed his full support for the committee’s future development.

Li Hongling, Director of the Second Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at the Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, underscored the necessity and significance of integrating rehabilitation with hyperbaric oxygen therapy, and recommended that the specialized committee further standardize industry management protocols and promote their implementation from the top down, thereby effectively expanding its influence within the sector.

Zhang Yi, chief physician of the Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Department at Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, expressed strong approval of the establishment of the Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Specialized Committee, noting that this initiative is of great significance in advancing the standardized development of the field.

Director Liu Quanfeng of the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at Shenzhen Hengsheng Hospital offered recommendations on issues such as pricing standards in the hyperbaric oxygen therapy field, the clarification of contraindications and the refinement of relevant guidelines, as well as coordination between manufacturers and clinical institutions. He also called on all member institutions to join forces and collaboratively establish a comprehensive database, thereby deepening research and understanding of hyperbaric oxygen therapy and advancing the development of this field.

The hospital and corporate representatives in attendance unanimously recognized the necessity and profound significance of establishing the Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Specialized Committee, firmly believing that its creation will play an invaluable role in guiding the industry toward a more standardized and higher‑quality trajectory, while advancing both the refinement and wider dissemination of specialized expertise. Participants expressed their deep anticipation for the Committee’s work and unwavering support, pledging to contribute their collective wisdom and efforts without reservation, working hand in hand to usher in a new chapter in the field of hyperbaric oxygen medicine and deliver even higher‑quality, more efficient healthcare to patients.

Summary Address by Executive Vice President and Secretary-General Hao Deming

President Hao Deming summarized the meeting. He emphasized that the preparatory work for the Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Specialized Committee should be further advanced, encompassing the establishment of training centers, the formulation of industry standards, the initiation of collaborative negotiations, the implementation of promotional campaigns, and the recruitment of members. He recommended that the preparatory team act promptly, systematically break down each task, and meticulously plan its execution, ensuring that all initiatives are effectively advanced and implemented, thereby attracting more outstanding professionals to join and collectively drive the vigorous development of hyperbaric oxygen medicine.

Attachment: List of Attendees