On April 28, the Nanjing Municipal Health Commission reported on the inaugural meeting of the Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Professional Committee of the China Association of Private Medical Institutions, as well as its first annual academic conference, which was held in Nanjing. The following is the report from the Nanjing Municipal Health Commission:

Yesterday, the inaugural founding conference and first annual academic symposium of the Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Professional Committee of the China Association of Private Medical Institutions were held in Nanjing. With the theme “Building a Solid Foundation through Compliance, Embarking on a New Journey through Collaborative Innovation,” the event brought together representatives from more than 100 medical institutions nationwide and leading experts in the field, marking the establishment of China’s first hyperbaric oxygen therapy committee under a private‑sector medical association. Participants engaged in in-depth discussions on cutting-edge technologies and clinical practices in the discipline. Following a vote, Professor Li Jinsheng, head of the hyperbaric oxygen therapy department at Nanjing Zijin Hospital, was elected as the inaugural chairperson, with Nanjing Zijin Hospital serving as the host institution. On the same day, the first annual academic symposium was held concurrently, during which experts from across the country convened to explore clinical research, technological innovations, and multidisciplinary collaboration models in hyperbaric oxygen therapy.

Hyperbaric oxygen medicine, as an emerging medical discipline, is playing an increasingly vital role in the diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of various conditions. From cerebrovascular diseases and neurological injuries to the management of diverse toxicological disorders, hyperbaric oxygen therapy has demonstrated irreplaceable advantages. In recent years, hyperbaric oxygen medicine has experienced robust growth in China, with Jiangsu Province—recognized as a hub for medical innovation—among the first to actively support its development, boasting one of the highest numbers of hyperbaric chambers nationwide. In Nanjing, too, hyperbaric oxygen medicine is enjoying strong momentum. According to a spokesperson from the Municipal Health Commission, the city currently has 34 medical institutions equipped with 57 hyperbaric chambers, treating approximately 270,000 patients annually. These services are widely applied in critical care, rehabilitation, neurodegenerative disease management, anti‑aging therapies, and other areas, offering new hope to patients.

The convening of this conference marks a new stage in the professional and systematic development of hyperbaric oxygen medicine in China. As the inaugural chairperson of the specialized committee, Li Jinsheng stated that the committee will focus on discipline building, talent cultivation, and technological innovation, promote the standardized application of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in private medical institutions, and establish cross-regional academic platforms to facilitate the sharing of high-quality resources, thereby advancing the dissemination of advanced technologies and fostering balanced regional development.

Original article link: https://wjw.nanjing.gov.cn/gzdt/202504/t20250428_5137357.html