BMC seeks biz upgrades, bigger global presence

Chinese respiratory device maker BMC Medical Co Ltd is accelerating global expansion and brand development as it strives to cement its leadership in respiratory health and grow into a world-class medical technology company.

Founded in 2001, BMC focuses on home respiratory care for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and obstructive sleep apnea. Its long-term dedication has made it the only Chinese manufacturer among the world's top five home-use ventilator brands and the only Chinese firm certified by the US Food and Drug Administration in this segment. By 2023, BMC became the second-largest brand by market share in the United States, outpacing long-established rivals.

Chairman and General Manager Zhuang Zhi said BMC aims to evolve into "a global platform for respiratory health management, not just a hardware manufacturer".

"For example, our team in France worked with local clinics last year to tailor our ventilator settings to European patients' breathing patterns, which helped boost our market share there by 15 percent," Zhuang said.

BMC has established a subsidiary in France and service centers in India, while maintaining long-term partnerships with distributors in the US and Europe. It is also investing more in domestic branding and patient services to align with China's growing home-based healthcare system.

"We are both a Chinese company and a global brand," Zhuang said. "As China's healthcare industry advances, we want our innovation to serve more patients both at home and abroad."

China's medical device exports rose steadily in the first half of 2025, reaching $24.1 billion, up 5 percent year-on-year, according to the China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Medicines and Health Products. The rebound reflects solid global demand for affordable, high-quality Chinese medical products.

Industry analysts said such momentum benefits Chinese companies like BMC that already hold global certifications and maintain distribution networks abroad.

He Juying, chief healthcare analyst at China Securities, said: "After years of import substitution, going global has become the natural next step for Chinese medical equipment manufacturers. The overseas market is several times larger than the domestic one."

A Changjiang Securities report said 2025 marks a turning point for BMC, citing the end of its overseas inventory destocking and new domestic healthcare incentives. The company's interim report shows a 42.3 percent year-on-year rise in first-half 2025 revenue to 544 million yuan ($76.63 million), while net profit increased 42.2 percent to 131 million yuan, its strongest first-half growth in the past five years.

BMC has consistently strengthened its research and development capabilities and regulatory compliance, holding 932 authorized patents worldwide and more than 20 FDA-cleared products.

Its R&D team has developed key technologies such as remote monitoring systems and intelligent pressure algorithms, which adjust air pressure in real time based on a patient's breathing rhythm to improve comfort and treatment efficacy. Independent tests in Europe have ranked its algorithms among the world's top performers.

Cao Zhixin, a respiratory specialist at Beijing Chaoyang Hospital of Capital Medical University, said such innovations are increasingly important as China promotes community-based and home respiratory care.

"Home ventilators and oxygen devices can help stabilize chronic patients and reduce hospital pressure," Cao said. "Integrating these devices with remote monitoring systems allows doctors to track a patient's nighttime breathing data and adjust treatment plans without in-person visits, which is especially valuable for elderly patients in rural areas."

BMC was among the first Chinese companies to launch a cloud-based respiratory health platform in 2015, connecting patients, doctors and devices.

The company's combination of manufacturing scale, certification expertise and growing service network has positioned it as a representative for China's medical device sector on the global stage.

Zhuang said the next five years will bring "huge opportunities" in home-use respiratory care worldwide.

"The future of respiratory health lies in intelligent and connected care," he said. "We hope to stand at the forefront of that transformation and showcase the strength of Chinese innovation on the global stage."

lijing2009@chinadaily.com.cn