Prime Highlights:
- The Eye and ENT Hospital of Fudan University can now provide medical care on a specially equipped airplane.
- Doctors in Shanghai can guide the onboard medical team in real time using 5G connections, improving access to care for remote communities.
Key Facts:
- The hospital uses a C909 regional jet, fully equipped for eye and facial treatments, both in flight and on the ground.
- Trial operations have begun, offering free check-ups and surgeries to patients in underserved regions.
Background:
China has launched its first airplane hospital. The Eye and ENT Hospital of Fudan University can now provide eye and facial care on a special plane.
With 5G support, doctors in Shanghai guide the team on board in real time. Trial runs have started, offering free check-ups and surgeries. One of the first patients, Abu from Xinjiang, said the care was advanced and reassuring.
The hospital has also helped patients in provinces like Guizhou, following strict safety, infection control, and medical standards. In collaboration with the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, the C909 jet was converted into a high-grade sterile environment suitable for delicate surgeries, complete with a mobile clinic, diagnostic area, surgery room, and patient preparation zone, all using Chinese-developed medical equipment optimized for mobile use.
Since its first mission in September 2025, the airplane hospital has progressively expanded from basic examinations to performing operations mid-flight. Officials say the program has made it easier for patients who used to travel long distances for treatment.
In 2026, the hospital plans to offer services outside China, reaching underserved areas in partner countries along the Belt and Road. Dr. Zhou Xingtao, president of the Eye and ENT Hospital, said the goal is to create a global “airborne health Silk Road” to bring eye and facial care to communities around the world.
