Hospitality Shandong Welcomes China's Heavy Ion Therapy - Eagerly Awaiting Its Launch to Serve Qilu Patients

--China's Heavy Ion Clinical Report Makes Strong Impact at 1st Yellow River Basin Hospital High-Quality Development Conference

On November 23, the inaugural Yellow River Basin Hospital High-Quality Development Conference was grandly convened in Jinan, Shandong. Prof. Yancheng Ye, a recipient of the State Council Special Allowance Expert and leading talent of Gansu Province from Gansu Wuwei Cancer Hospital, delivered an academic report titled "Unveiling the Development of China's Heavy Ion Therapy System" at the oncology session themed "Multi-Dimensional Integration for Precision Advancement." His presentation garnered extensive attention and sparked lively discussions among attendees.

Innovation in medical technology is a key driver propelling hospitals towards high-quality development. As a cutting-edge technology in the field of cancer treatment, heavy ion therapy represents a new productive force for high-quality hospital development.

According to reports from Proton China, the installation of the domestic heavy ion system in Shandong is expected to take place in 2025, with the system slated for official operation by the end of 2026.

Prof. Yancheng Ye's report comprehensively elaborated on the development process, technical features, and clinical applications of China's heavy ion therapy system, while also sharing the remarkable achievements and valuable experience gained by Gansu Wuwei Cancer Hospital in this field. He emphasized that the Wuwei Heavy Ion Center is committed to enhancing standardized tumor management and medical technology innovation. The hospital has pioneered several world-first technologies, including: a world-first technique combining high-frequency oscillatory ventilation with heavy ion therapy，Single-session heavy ion therapy with surgically implanted spacers between organs and tumors. The center has also established China's heavy ion quality management system,publishing six monographs， including Standard Operating Procedures for Carbon Ion Radiotherapy, and developed clinical protocols for over 50 disease types. By fully implementing the "biological-social-psychological" medical model, the center provides comprehensive, whole-lifecycle health management, delivering more holistic medical services to patients.

The attendees highly commended Prof. Yancheng Ye's report, recognizing that the latest advancements and remarkable clinical achievements in China's heavy ion therapy for tumors presented therein have injected robust new momentum into hospital high-quality development.

Since its official clinical launch in March 2020, Wuwei Heavy Ion Center has treated over 1,600 patients from all provinces of China (including Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macao) and countries such as Belgium and Australia.

After four and a half years of operation, Wuwei's system was upgraded in September 2023, Wuwei heavy ion system underwent iterative upgrades. Treatment cabins No. 3 and 4 equipped with robotic-arm couches were put into service, reducing positioning time from 30 minutes to under 15 minutes and doubling monthly treatment capacity from 50 to 100 patients. On November 15, 2023, Lanzhou heavy ion system's four treatment cabins – managed by Wuwei under Gansu's "Strengthening Provincial Capitals" initiative – became fully operational. With Gansu Wuwei Cancer Hospital now operating eight treatment cabins simultaneously, its monthly capacity will reach 200 patients, delivering more efficient and accessible oncology services.

This conference not only provided a platform for exchanges and cooperation among hospitals in the nine provinces (regions) of the Yellow River Basin but also injected new vitality into the popularization and application of heavy ion therapy in China. It is believed that in the near future, heavy ion therapy will be widely used in more hospitals,expanding access to this breakthrough cancer treatment.