China's Heavy Ion Therapy: A New Hope for Life — High-Quality Development and Green Healthcare Model

China's Heavy Ion Therapy: A New Hope for Life — High-Quality Development and Green Healthcare Model Promotion Conference Successfully Held in Harbin, Heilongjiang

On September 3, the China Heavy Ion Therapy High-Quality Development and Green Healthcare Model Promotion Conference was successfully held in Harbin, Heilongjiang Province.

The meeting was chaired by Nie Peng, Vice President of Gansu Wuwei Cancer Hospital. During the conference, all attendees watched a short introductory video on heavy ion therapy. Professor Zhang Yunyan, Director of the Heilongjiang Provincial Medical Association Radiotherapy Committee, Chief Physician of Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, and Doctoral Supervisor, delivered an opening speech. Dong Weijun, a member of the management team of China Southern Airlines Group Culture and Media Co., Ltd., represented Southern Airlines Media in delivering a speech. Jiang Wei, project lead of the China Life "Million Medical Coverage + Heavy Ion Therapy Green Channel" initiative (Wuwei Branch), provided a detailed introduction to the "Million Medical Heavy Ion Therapy Green Channel" project. Chen Suhua, National Sales Director of China Southern Airlines Group 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 Years of Heavy Ion Facility Construction and Clinical Application: Current Status," offering a comprehensive overview of the achievements in heavy ion therapy technology development and its practical clinical applications.

Presided over by Nie Peng, Vice President of Gansu Wuwei Cancer Hospital.

Professor Zhang Yunyan, Director of the Radiotherapy Specialty Committee of Heilongjiang Medical Association, Chief Physician at Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, and Doctoral Supervisor, delivered a speech

Dong Weijun, a member of the executive management of China Southern Airlines Group Culture and Media Co., Ltd., delivered a speech on behalf of Southern Airlines Media.

Jiang Wei, Project Lead of China Life's "Million Medical + Heavy Ion Therapy Green Channel" Initiative (Wuwei Branch), provided a detailed introduction to the "Million Medical Heavy Ion Therapy Green Channel" project.

Chen Suhua, National Sales Director of China Southern Airlines Group Culture and Media Co., Ltd., introduced the "Green Healthcare Aviation High-Quality Service" project.

Ye Yancheng, President of Gansu Wuwei Cancer Hospital, delivered a keynote report titled "Five Years of Heavy Ion Facility Construction and Clinical Application: Current Status.

Expert Q&A / Press Q&A

As a cutting-edge technology in the field of oncology in the 21st century, heavy ion therapy offers precise targeting, remarkable efficacy, and minimal side effects for traditionally challenging malignancies such as osteosarcoma, glioblastoma, and pancreatic cancer. Compared to conventional photon radiotherapy, it nearly doubles the survival rate of patients. The introduction of this conference in Heilongjiang aims to bring this “Made with Chinese Wisdom” advanced technology out of the laboratory and benefit a broader population, offering new hope to patients with difficult-to-treat tumors in Northeast China and surrounding regions. During the media Q&A session, the expert team will provide an in-depth explanation of the technical principles and clinical cases, allowing the public to gain a direct understanding of the power of advanced medical technology.

After ten years of development and five years of clinical practice, the Heavy Ion Center at Gansu Wuwei Cancer Hospital has continuously achieved breakthroughs in technological innovation, setting numerous “world and domestic firsts.” It is the only hospital globally operating two heavy ion treatment systems, forming a powerful dual-center collaborative framework. It leads the world in the number of single-session treatments completed within one day, and has pioneered heavy ion precision therapy under respiratory motion management. The center also introduced the world’s first technique for bladder cancer treatment under precise bladder volume control, and pioneered single-session heavy ion treatment with surgically placed spacers between organs and tumors. Domestically, it developed the first 360° rotating and adjustable ion therapy chair. Globally, it is the first to complete multiple cases of cardiac tumor heavy ion therapy and to implement heavy ion treatment combined with comprehensive, full-life-cycle physical and mental health management. These breakthroughs have not only filled multiple international gaps but also transformed China’s heavy ion therapy from a “follower” into a “global leader.”

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

From initially treating 7 types of tumors during the clinical trial phase in 2018, the center has now expanded its precision therapy to cover over 50 types of malignancies. Annual treatment capacity has surged from 200 cases to nearly 1,000, reflecting an average annual growth rate of 17.5%. This progress underscores the comprehensive advancement of China’s high-end medical service capabilities and technical precision. To date, the hospital has successfully treated more than 2,100 patients, who come from all provinces and regions of China, including Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau, as well as from countries such as Belgium, Australia, South Korea, Canada, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam.

It is reported that in order to effectively address the issue of medical costs and provide financial support for cancer prevention and treatment to the general public, Gansu Wuwei Cancer Hospital has partnered with insurance companies such as China Life to launch the "Million Medical Coverage + Heavy Ion Therapy Green Channel" project. Under this program, individuals who purchase the insurance are eligible for total coverage of up to 5.55 million RMB (4.05 million for comprehensive medical insurance + 1.5 million for heavy ion therapy insurance) if they undergo heavy ion treatment and other integrated therapies after diagnosis. The insurance company offers a one-stop reimbursement service for medical expenses. This initiative has already benefited a large number of patients receiving heavy ion therapy and comprehensive treatment.

The meeting was also attended by Professor Zhang Yunyan, Director of the Radiotherapy Specialty Committee of Heilongjiang Medical Association, Chief Physician at Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, and Doctoral Supervisor; Professor Wang Chunbo, Chief Physician in the Second Department of Thoracic Radiotherapy at Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital and Doctoral Supervisor; Professor Gao Feng, Chief Physician in the Third Department of Medical Oncology at Beidahuang Group General Hospital; Professor Bai Yanling, Researcher at Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital and Doctoral Supervisor; Professor Zhang Chundong, Director of the Radiotherapy Department at Heilongjiang Provincial Hospital and Master's Supervisor; and Professor Wang Jinglu, Chief Physician in the Radiotherapy Department of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University and Master's Supervisor.

Also present were Dong Weijun, a member of the executive management of China Southern Airlines Group Culture and Media Co., Ltd.; Jiang Wei, Project Lead of China Life’s "Million Medical + Heavy Ion Therapy Green Channel" Initiative (Wuwei Branch); and Ye Yancheng, President of Gansu Wuwei Cancer Hospital, along with other relevant department leads.

In addition, the conference was fully covered by 20 mainstream media outlets, including China Daily Online, Heilongjiang Economic Daily, Northeast Metropolis Daily, Northeast Network, Sina.com, and Ifeng.com.

The successful hosting of this promotion conference in Heilongjiang marks not only the beginning of heavy ion technology benefiting the people of Northeast China, but also reflects the broader advancement of China’s medical innovations onto a wider stage. From achieving breakthroughs in treating refractory tumors to establishing a comprehensive system integrating “technology, financial protection, and service support,” China’s heavy ion therapy is now positioned as a “global leader,” offering valuable practical experience for cancer treatment worldwide — allowing the seed of “new hope for life” to take root and flourish in even more places.

Conference Highlights

Preliminary Review: Zhang Jie   Final Review: Zhang Lihong