China Focus: China's first licensed airplane hospital takes healthcare to new heights

SHANGHAI, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- China's aviation medical services have embarked on a new journey, with the approval of the country's first medical institution practice license authorized for an airplane hospital operated by the Eye & ENT Hospital of Fudan University in Shanghai.

The Shanghai Municipal Health Commission has officially granted the hospital a pilot license to run the airplane hospital dedicated to facial features health, which is modified from a C909, a home-developed short-medium range turbofan regional aircraft, the Science and Technology Daily has reported.

This initiative fulfills the goal of bringing medical expertise directly to grassroots communities. In addition to surgeries, patients in remote regions can receive long-distance diagnosis and treatment from experts in Shanghai via the 5G technology, which enables high-quality medical services to span thousands of miles and significantly enhances healthcare accessibility, according to the hospital.

Following the license approval, the hospital conducted a new round of drills, including performing charitable surgeries on board.

Abu, a patient from Ili in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, received follow-up care after a procedure on the plane and expressed his confidence.

"I never expected surgery could be done in an airplane hospital. I felt completely at ease with Dr. Zhou Xingtao and his team performing my operation," he said.

Patients from other remote areas, such as Guizhou in southwest China, have also received care, according to the hospital.

To ensure safety and quality, the hospital has developed a comprehensive safety control system tailored to its specialized services and the unique aircraft environment.

In collaboration with the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, the country's leading passenger aircraft manufacturer, the team designed and implemented a Class I clean surgery cabin solution on the aircraft, meeting the highest laminar-flow purification standard. This creates a sterile environment stringent enough for delicate ophthalmic surgeries.

The newly upgraded airplane hospital features a multifunctional, rapidly deployable modular setup integrating a mobile clinic, comprehensive examination area, training space, pre-operative preparation, and a surgical zone, all equipped with domestically produced precision medical devices.

The hospital has also established a series of management protocols covering personnel, equipment, procedures, infection control, emergencies, and environmental protection for cabin-based outpatient services, examinations, surgeries, and support.

The successful integration of a high-standard operating room on an aircraft expands the specialized service scope of the mobile hospital and lays the foundation for more precise ophthalmic treatments.

Since its inaugural flight to Shihezi in Xinjiang in September 2025, the C909 airplane hospital has evolved from basic diagnostics to surgical capabilities.

Looking ahead, the airplane hospital aims to bridge geographic barriers by delivering high-quality medical services directly to patients in remote regions.

In 2026, it plans to extend its service radius to medically underserved regions in Belt and Road partner countries for charitable missions.

"We look forward to flying to more places in need, helping safeguard public health in facial features, and benefiting more patients along the airborne health Silk Road," said Professor Zhou Xingtao, President of the Eye & ENT Hospital of Fudan University. ■