US healthcare giant Johnson & Johnson launched its first Johnson & Johnson Institute with virtual reality technology for the Asia-Pacific region in China, as the company said it sees the country as one of its most important markets.

Launched on June 14 in Beijing, the institute serves as the company's flagship facility in the Asia-Pacific region. It is one of Johnson & Johnson's five institutes worldwide equipped with VR technology.

With cutting-edge technologies and flexible training designs, the institute said it aims to raise the national level of professional and systematic development in medical education.

"As a medical technology company, China is the future. We will partner with professional societies and senior healthcare professionals to build education programs for the country's healthcare professionals, especially young professionals," said Gavin Fox-Smith, vice-president of Global Education Solutions at Johnson & Johnson Medical Asia-Pacific.

"Johnson & Johnson has a very strong commitment to building education programs that supplement medical school training in China, by offering a physical environment, the latest technologies and the best people that are able to facilitate the training," he said.

According to the company, it has spent tens of millions of dollars on hardware while building the institute, and it will continue to increase that investment.

"The institute is estimated to accommodate 60,000 visits annually, while we offer livestreaming classes to cover a broader area in China," said Kevin Chen, vice-president of Operations and Education Solution at Johnson & Johnson Medical (China) Ltd.

"Most of our facilities in the institute are equipped with VR and AR (augmented reality) technologies, and we will team up with local healthcare professionals to better develop both the software and hardware," Chen said.

The institute in Beijing currently includes three unique VR training modules for orthopedic surgery - total knee replacement, total hip replacement with direct anterior approach and hip fracture treatment with a proximal femoral nail - where doctors can simulate operations with the help of VR technology.

Julia Chen, general manager of DePuy Synthes at Johnson & Johnson Medical (China), said: "Taking the orthopedics department as an example, more than 10 years ago, senior healthcare professionals had to offer hand-holding guidance to young doctors, which was of low efficiency. Now, with the help of VR, young professionals acquire skills in a more efficient way."

Ao Yingfang, head of the Institute of Sports Medicine at Peking University Third Hospital, said: "Medical training is of great significance to healthcare professionals. Currently, the training system for the country's provincial level is complete, but the situation at grassroots levels is not satisfying. Lowering the training length and increasing training efficiency at the community level is urgently needed. The establishment of the institute will bring blessings for healthcare professionals there."