On April 28, the Xinhua Daily Health Edition 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, held in Nanjing. The following is a report from the Nanjing Municipal Health Commission:

On April 27, 2025, the inaugural meeting of the Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Professional Committee of the China Association of Non‑Public Medical Institutions, together with its first annual academic conference, was grandly inaugurated in Nanjing. With the theme “Compliance as the Foundation, Strengthening Roots, and Collaborative Innovation to Usher in a New Era,” the event brought together over 300 delegates from more than 120 medical institutions nationwide, along with internationally renowned experts, to witness the establishment of the committee and engage in in-depth discussions on cutting-edge technologies and clinical practices in the field.

Leading authorities gather to discuss the development of hyperbaric oxygen therapy.

Hyperbaric oxygen medicine, as the “invisible engine” of modern medicine, has demonstrated unique value in areas such as brain injury repair, critical care, and chronic disease management. Hao Deming, Executive Vice President and Secretary-General of the China Association of Private Medical Institutions, pointed out that for a long time, private medical institutions have faced constraints in disciplinary development due to the lack of unified standards and collaborative platforms. The establishment of this specialized committee not only fills the gap in the development of hyperbaric oxygen therapy within the private healthcare sector but also, by integrating national resources and building a cross-regional platform, injects strong momentum into the industry.

Hao Deming emphasized: “Hyperbaric oxygen therapy boasts the advantages of being multi‑targeted, low‑cost, and highly safe, making it a key tool for addressing the challenges posed by an aging society and the high prevalence of chronic diseases. The establishment of this specialized committee represents an important step in implementing the ‘Healthy China 2030’ strategy and an innovative effort to promote the balanced distribution of high‑quality medical resources.”

The conference strictly adhered to statutory procedures, and Professor Li Jinsheng, the leading expert in hyperbaric oxygen therapy at Nanjing Zijin Hospital, was elected by a large majority as the inaugural chairperson. Professor Li emphasized that the specialized committee will focus on three core priorities—technical standardization, talent development, and scientific innovation—by formulating the industry’s first “Quality Control Standards for Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy,” promoting the widespread adoption of advanced techniques, and fostering deep collaboration between public and private medical institutions, thereby building a nationwide academic ecosystem. Following the inaugural meeting, the first annual academic symposium was held concurrently. Experts from across China—including U.S. National Academy of Medicine member Li Jian’an, Chairman Bi Sheng of the Rehabilitation Medicine Committee of the Chinese Private Medical Association, Dr. Long Ying, consultant to the Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Department of Shenzhen People’s Hospital, and Dean Lu Xiao of the School of Rehabilitation Medicine at Nanjing Medical University—engaged in discussions on clinical research, technological innovation, and multidisciplinary collaborative models in hyperbaric oxygen therapy. The presentations covered cutting-edge topics such as brain injury repair, severe disorders of consciousness, and oxygen‑administration strategies, featuring both theoretical insights and analyses of representative clinical cases, thus highlighting the diverse practical value of hyperbaric oxygen medicine.

Decoding mechanisms and expanding clinical applications

The core mechanism of hyperbaric oxygen therapy lies in increasing the amount of dissolved oxygen in the blood under high-pressure conditions, thereby directly alleviating tissue hypoxia. Long Ying, head of the Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Department at Shenzhen People’s Hospital, chairman of the Hyperbaric Oxygen Medicine Branch of the Chinese Medical Association, and honorary chairman of the Hyperbaric Oxygen Committee of the China Non‑Public Medical Association, likens its effect to a “cellular charging station”: “Hyperbaric oxygen therapy involves having the human body breathe pure oxygen in a sealed, high‑pressure environment to treat certain conditions—such as systemic disorders like stroke, cardiac and respiratory arrest, and carbon monoxide poisoning—which make it an ‘ideal partner’ for emergency care. It also addresses localized ailments, including skin ulcers, diabetic foot, pressure sores, and shingles—conditions that, in traditional Chinese medicine, are often treated by tonifying the middle jiao and replenishing qi. However, hyperbaric oxygen therapy can more effectively improve the internal milieu of the body,” Long Ying explained.

What is the difference between hyperbaric oxygen therapy and everyday supplemental oxygen? Long Ying explains that normobaric oxygen administration primarily addresses pulmonary oxygenation—increasing the amount of oxygen bound to hemoglobin to raise overall blood oxygen levels. “This level of oxygen can only meet the physiological metabolic needs of normal cells. However, when the body experiences hypoxia, the oxygen supply must not only sustain cellular metabolism but also support tissue repair—and in such cases, the available oxygen falls short. Particularly in severe ischemic conditions, a greater oxygen supply is required, at which point hyperbaric oxygen therapy becomes necessary.” Long Ying offers an analogy: hyperbaric oxygen is like the gas dissolved directly in carbonated water—it can permeate tissues and even diffuse straight into cells. “This makes it fundamentally different from the oxygen we receive in hospital wards or from home‑use oxygen concentrators.”

“Hyperbaric oxygen therapy provides an irreplaceable therapeutic window for patients with brain injury,” Li Jinsheng noted in his academic presentation. By modulating inflammatory responses, promoting angiogenesis, and improving blood–brain barrier function, among other mechanisms, hyperbaric oxygen can significantly enhance recovery outcomes in patients with cerebral infarction, cerebral hemorrhage, and other conditions. Li further explained, “Hyperbaric oxygen can also stimulate stem cell proliferation and even influence molecular signaling pathways such as the hypoxia‑inducible factor (HIF). Its clinical applications are continually expanding, for example, through integration with assisted reproductive technologies and anti‑aging research.”

Synergistic complementarity to create a closed-loop system for treatment and rehabilitation.

As Jiangsu Province’s first privately owned, tertiary‑level rehabilitation hospital, Nanjing Zijin Hospital has remained deeply committed to the field of hyperbaric oxygen therapy since its establishment in 1987. Over the years, the hospital has consistently focused on hyperbaric medicine, evolving from an initial center for the rehabilitation treatment of cerebrovascular diseases into a modern diagnostic and therapeutic facility equipped with a large array of hyperbaric chambers and an in‑chamber emergency care system for critical and life‑threatening conditions. Its research projects related to hyperbaric oxygen therapy have received funding support at both provincial and ministerial levels.

In addition, Nanjing Zijin Hospital’s pioneering efforts in the field of critical-care rehabilitation have drawn significant attention. The hospital’s intensive care unit primarily admits patients who require long-term rehabilitation; by combining hyperbaric oxygen therapy with comprehensive rehabilitation approaches, many patients who would otherwise struggle to receive sustained care at large tertiary hospitals have been given a new lease on life. Under the tiered healthcare system, the synergistic effects between public and private medical institutions are becoming increasingly evident. As Li Jinsheng noted, “Public hospitals focus on acute and critical cases, while private facilities take on patients in the rehabilitation phase, creating a closed-loop model that spans ‘acute care–rehabilitation–chronic disease management.’ This approach both alleviates bed‑space pressures in public hospitals and reduces the financial burden on patients.”

Zhu Mingzhi, vice president of the Jiangsu Provincial Association of Privately Operated Medical Institutions, revealed that in 2023, privately operated medical facilities in Jiangsu Province provided 140 million outpatient and inpatient visits, accounting for 21.75% of the province’s total. “Jiangsu’s private healthcare sector ranks among the top nationwide in terms of scale, size, and market share, and a development pattern characterized by functional complementarity and healthy, orderly competition with public hospitals has essentially taken shape,” Zhu Mingzhi stated.

“The establishment of the Non‑Public Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Specialized Committee will bring together leading medical institutions, academic experts, equipment manufacturers, and research institutes across the country to further advance the standardization and professionalization of hyperbaric oxygen therapy,” said Ge Jiangping, President of Nanjing Zijin Hospital and Executive Deputy Chairperson and Secretary‑General of the Chinese Association of Private Medical Institutions’ Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Specialized Committee. “For example, we will clarify the indications, contraindications, and standardized treatment protocols for hyperbaric oxygen therapy, develop outcome‑evaluation metrics, and establish a certification system. Through such standardization efforts, we aim ultimately to foster industry self‑regulation and technological upgrading, enhance patient satisfaction, and generate positive word‑of‑mouth.”

Original article link: https://www.xhrbjk.com/#/article?articleId=96228