On June 13, 2026, at the “Hydrogen-Oxygen Medicine Development” thematic meeting of the 18th Straits Forum · Health and Healthcare Sub-forum, the Chinese Research Hospital Association officially released the group standard General Specification for Clinical Application of Hydrogen-Oxygen Mixed Gas Inhalation Therapy (T/CRHA316—2026) [1][2].
This standard was jointly led by the National Center for Respiratory Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, and Shanghai Asclepius Meditec, with more than 20 tertiary Grade-A hospitals participating in its development [3].
Behind the release of the group standard lies a cross-Strait medical cooperation story spanning twelve years—the journey between Professor Zhong Nanshan of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and Taiwanese entrepreneur LIN, HSIN-YUNG, from “doubt and skepticism” to jointly drafting an industry standard [4]. This journey not only witnessed the growth of an original Chinese medical technology, but also reflects the profound transformation of cross-Strait medical technology cooperation from case-by-case exploration to co-building standards.
In 2011, Taiwanese entrepreneur LIN, HSIN-YUNG founded Asclepius Meditec in Shanghai [5]. At that time, hydrogen medicine was still in the basic research stage globally, and no similar product had received marketing authorization as a medical device [5].
In 2013 (or early 2014), LIN, HSIN-YUNG approached Zhong Nanshan with a hydrogen-oxygen nebulizer developed by his team. This instrument used ordinary water electrolysis to produce hydrogen and oxygen—Asclepius Meditec completely bypassed the PEM (proton exchange membrane) and SPE (solid polymer electrolyte) technology routes then universally used in the global industrial hydrogen production field, and independently developed a water-electrolysis system dedicated to medical devices that requires no perfluorosulfonic acid membrane and uses no industrial strong-alkali electrolyte [4].
Zhong Nanshan's reaction was no different from that of any rigorous medical scientist—“I was skeptical” [4]. This was not distrust, but the underlying logic of medical science: a mechanism that sounds reasonable does not mean it is clinically effective; an instrument that appears to produce gas does not mean it is safe and controllable.
Over the following twelve years, the cooperation between the Zhong Nanshan team and Asclepius Meditec passed through three stages [4].
Stage one: from individual cases to single-center clinical research. In December 2014, the team of Professor Zhong Nanshan began guiding Asclepius Meditec's clinical research work [5]. The initial cooperation was based on the observation and accumulation of individual real cases, and the clinical effects of hydrogen-oxygen mixed inhalation were gradually verified in patients with respiratory diseases [4].
Stage two: from single-center to multicenter randomized controlled trial. On May 13, 2021, the multicenter, randomized, double-blind, parallel-group controlled trial on hydrogen-oxygen mixed inhalation therapy for acute exacerbation of COPD, completed jointly by both parties, was published in the internationally renowned academic journal Respiratory Research [6]. The study concluded that hydrogen-oxygen mixed inhalation therapy is superior to oxygen therapy alone in patients with AECOPD, with acceptable safety and tolerability [6]. The multicenter randomized controlled trial is the “gold standard” of evidence-based medicine—the publication of this study marks the entry of hydrogen-oxygen medicine from empirical exploration into the realm of evidence-based medicine [4].
Stage three: from clinical research to industry standards. On February 2, 2020, Asclepius Meditec received the first National Class III medical device certificate (NMPA National Medical Device Registration no. 20203080066) [5][12]; on December 8, 2023, it received a second Class III certificate (NMPA National Medical Device Registration no. 20233081929) [5][7][12]. By 2026, the three parties jointly led the development of a national group standard [3]. From case-by-case observation to single-center research, from multicenter RCT to national Class III certificates, and then to an industry group standard—this is a complete medical evidence chain, and also the complete path of an original Chinese technology from zero to one and from one to N [4].
The twelve years between Zhong Nanshan and LIN, HSIN-YUNG are essentially a story about “how trust is built” [4].
In the medical field, trust is not built through verbal promises but accumulated through repeated clinical validations. Zhong Nanshan moved from initial skepticism toward an unfamiliar device, to leading a multicenter RCT, and finally to jointly formulating industry standards—every deepening of trust was built on repeatable, verifiable clinical evidence [4].
The significance of this story extends beyond hydrogen-oxygen medicine itself. It demonstrates a replicable model of cross-Strait medical technology cooperation: a Taiwanese entrepreneur's technological innovation + validation by the mainland's top-tier clinical resources + joint promotion by forces on both sides = an original medical technology going from China to the world [4].
At this Straits Forum, more than 320 participants from 22 Taiwanese medical societies and institutions attended the meeting, including 149 Taiwanese youth [10]. They conducted in-depth exchanges with mainland counterparts at 12 thematic meetings—the next generation of cross-Strait medical technology integration is taking shape [10]. If LIN, HSIN-YUNG represents the sample of the first generation of Taiwanese entrepreneurs deeply cultivating the mainland, then these Taiwanese youth scattered across the thematic meetings represent the future.
Zheng Zhe, Vice Minister of the National Health Commission, stated at the opening ceremony that he hopes the medical and health communities on both sides will “cast unity through integration, jointly shouldering the mission of national rejuvenation” and “guide the future through innovation, gather strength through youth, and jointly promote the high-quality development of health and healthcare” [11]. The twelve years between Zhong Nanshan and LIN, HSIN-YUNG are precisely a vivid practice of “casting unity through integration and guiding the future through innovation” [4].
[1] Chinese Research Hospital Association. Announcement on Approving the Release of 8 Group Standards Including the Requirements for Capability Evaluation of Respiratory Specialty Large Models. 2026-06-12.
[2] People's Daily Central Kitchen · Health 37° Studio. Group Standard for General Specification for Clinical Application of Hydrogen-Oxygen Mixed Gas Inhalation Therapy Released. 2026-06-14.
[3] Xinmin Weekly. Professor Zhong Nanshan Interprets the “Threefold Value”; the Straits Forum Opens a New Chapter in the Standardization of Hydrogen-Oxygen Medicine. 2026-06-17.
[4] Xingtai Online. The Twelve Years Between Zhong Nanshan and LIN, HSIN-YUNG: From “Doubt and Skepticism” to Jointly Drafting the Group Standard. 2026-06-23.
[5] Shanghai Asclepius Meditec Co., Ltd. Company profile.
[6] Zheng ZG, Sun WZ, Hu JY, et al. Hydrogen/oxygen therapy for the treatment of an acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: results of a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, parallel-group controlled trial. Respiratory Research, 2021, 22: 149. DOI: 10.1186/s12931-021-01740-w.
[7] Shanghai Asclepius Meditec Co., Ltd. official website.
[8] People's Daily Central Kitchen · Health 37° Studio. Professor Zhong Nanshan's Message on the Release of the Hydrogen-Oxygen Medicine Group Standard: Unified Norms Are the Cornerstone of the Healthy Development of Hydrogen-Oxygen Medicine. 2026-06-16.
[9] China Energy News. Norms First Promote the Orderly Exploration of Original Chinese Technology; the Hydrogen-Oxygen Medicine Group Standard Is Released in Xiamen, Fujian. 2026-06-18.
[10] China Taiwan Net. The 18th Straits Forum – Health and Healthcare Sub-forum Successfully Held in Xiamen. 2026-06-15.
[11] National Health Commission. The 18th Straits Forum – Health and Healthcare Sub-forum Successfully Held in Xiamen. 2026-06-14.
[12] NMPA medical device database (registration numbers: NMPA National Medical Device Registration no. 20203080066, 20233081929).
