China's Heavy-Ion Technology Makes Way into Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region

China's Heavy-Ion Technology Makes Way into Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region

On August 27, the China Heavy Ion High-Quality Development and Green Healthcare Model Promotion Conference was successfully held in Yinchuan City, Ningxia.

Professor Ma Bin, Director of the Department of Oncology Surgery at the First People's Hospital of Yinchuan, Ningxia, and Master's Supervisor; Professor Ma Jianping and Professor Li Yunxia from the Affiliated General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University; Professor Zhang Yuhui from the People's Hospital of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region; as well as experts in radiotherapy and oncology from various hospitals in Ningxia attended the conference. Also present were Chen Suhua, Sales Director of the Digital Marketing Center of China Southern Air Holding Culture and Media Co., Ltd.; Yu Yafeng, General Manager of the Yinchuan Central Branch of China Life Property & Casualty Insurance Co., Ltd.; Jiang Wei, General Manager of the Wuwei Branch; and Ye Yancheng, President of Gansu Wuwei Cancer Hospital, along with other relevant responsible personnel. In addition, 20 mainstream media outlets, including Xinhua Net, China Daily Net, and Ningxia Daily, provided full coverage of the event.

The conference was chaired by Cai Qinghua, Vice President of Gansu Wuwei Cancer Hospital. During the event, all attendees collectively watched an introductory short film on heavy ion therapy. Professor Ma Bin, Director of the Department of Oncology Surgery at Yinchuan First People’s Hospital and Master’s Supervisor, delivered an opening speech. Yu Yafeng, General Manager of the Yinchuan Central Branch of China Life Property & Casualty Insurance Co., Ltd., introduced the “Ningxia Yihuibao” Heavy Ion Project, providing a detailed explanation of how the insurance protection mechanism effectively reduces the financial burden of cancer treatment for patients. Chen Suhua, Sales Director of China Southern Air Holding Culture and Media Co., Ltd., presented the “Green Healthcare Aviation High-Quality Service” project. Ye Yancheng, President of Gansu Wuwei Cancer Hospital, delivered a keynote report titled “Five-Year Review of Heavy Ion Facility Construction and Clinical Application,” comprehensively sharing the achievements in the development of heavy ion therapy technology and its practical clinical application.

Vice President Cai Qinghua of Wuwei Tumor Hospital in Gansu Province presided

Professor Ma Bin, Chief of the Department of Oncological Surgery at Yinchuan First People's Hospital, Chief Physician, Doctor of Surgery, and Master's Supervisor, delivered a speech

Yu Yafeng from the Yinchuan Branch of China Life Property Insurance Co., Ltd. introduced the "Ningxia Yihuibao" heavy ion project

Chen Suhua, Sales Director of China Southern Airlines Group Media & Culture Company, introduced the "Green Medical Air High-Quality Service" project

Ye Yancheng, President of Gansu Wuwei Cancer Hospital, delivered a thematic report titled "Current Status of Heavy-Ion Facility Construction and Clinical Applications: Five-Year Review."

Expert Q&A Reporter Q&A

After a decade of construction and five years of operational practice, the Heavy Ion Center of Gansu Wuwei Cancer Hospital has successfully launched the first and second domestic heavy ion tumor treatment systems in China. Under the "15th Five-Year Plan" period, the hospital has anchored its core values in "Compassion, Harmony, and Health," with a mission to "gather cutting-edge global technologies to universally benefit cancer patients worldwide," and a vision to "become a global destination for patients overcoming cancer." Building on the integration of global intellectual resources, the Heavy Ion Center at Gansu Wuwei Cancer Hospital has continuously achieved breakthroughs in technological innovation, creating multiple "world and domestic firsts" milestones. It is the only hospital globally operating two heavy ion treatment systems, forming a powerful dual-center collaborative framework. The center leads the world in the number of single-fraction treatments completed within one day. It has pioneered:  

• Precision heavy ion therapy under respiratory gating control,  

• Bladder cancer treatment under precise bladder volume management,  

• Single-session heavy ion therapy with surgically implanted spacers between organs and tumors,  

• The development of China’s first 360-degree rotating and adjustable ion radiation therapy chair,  

• The world’s first completion of multiple heavy ion treatments for cardiac tumors,  

• The first implementation of heavy ion therapy combined with comprehensive, full-life-cycle physical and mental health management.  

These breakthroughs not only fill multiple international gaps but also elevate China’s heavy ion therapy from a "follower" to a "global leader."

Moreover, the hospital has long-term engagements with Professor Tatsuaki Kanai from the University of Gunma, Japan; Professor Hirohiko Tsujii, former Director of the National Institute of Radiological Sciences; Professor Jörg Hauffe, former Director of the Munich Proton Therapy Center (RPTC) in Germany; Professor Olga; Professor Yi-Min Jen, former Chairman of the Taiwan Society of Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology; Professor Chia-Ming Wu, a renowned radiation physicist from Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in Taiwan; and the team led by Professor Junjie Wang, Chairman of the Chinese Society of Therapeutic Radiation and Oncology. Through clinical mentoring and technical guidance, these experts have laid a solid foundation for building a globally competitive cancer treatment system. Recently, the hospital has further strengthened its team by inviting Professor Yasuo Yoshioka from the Department of Radiotherapy at the Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research, and Professor György Kovács, Director of the Brachytherapy Center at the University of Lübeck, Germany, and Educational Program Director at the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore in Italy, to join the hospital on a long-term basis.

From seven diseases during the 2018 clinical trial period to now surpassing over 50 types of tumors for precision treatment; from an annual treatment capacity of 200 cases to nearly 1,000 cases, with an average annual growth rate of 17.5% — this progress reflects the comprehensive advancement of China's high-end medical service capabilities and technical precision. To date, the hospital has completed treatments for nearly 2,100 patients, who come from all provinces and cities across China, including Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macao, as well as from countries such as Belgium, Australia, South Korea, Canada, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam.

It is reported that to effectively address the issue of medical costs and provide financial support for cancer prevention and treatment for the general public, Gansu Wuwei Cancer Hospital, in collaboration with insurance companies such as China Life Property & Casualty Insurance, has launched the "Million-Yuan Medical Insurance + Heavy Ion Treatment Green Channel" project. Individuals who purchase this insurance can, upon diagnosis, receive heavy ion therapy and other comprehensive treatments, with total coverage of up to 5.55 million yuan (4.05 million yuan for comprehensive medical insurance + 1.5 million yuan for heavy ion medical insurance). The insurance company provides one-stop medical expense reimbursement services. This project has already benefited a significant number of patients undergoing heavy ion therapy and comprehensive treatment.

"China's Heavy Ion Therapy: A New Hope for Life." With the convening of this promotion conference, heavy ion therapy—an advanced cancer treatment technology of the 21st century—will further enter the public view in Ningxia and surrounding regions. This not only marks a milestone in the deep integration of China's high-end medical technology with public livelihood security but also signifies a leap from technological breakthroughs to widespread, accessible implementation in the field of cancer treatment.

Meeting Highlights

Preliminary Review: Liu Wenyu

Final Review: Ma Shuqian