Pooling Social Forces to Advance Tumor Radiotherapy

​​On September 14th, an academic conference bringing together leading radiotherapy specialists—the 2024 Annual Work Conference of the Radiotherapy Expert Committee of the Bethune Public Welfare Foundation—successfully held at the Heavy Ion Center of Wuwei Cancer Hospital, Gansu Province.​​

Themed "Focusing on Tumor Radiotherapy Technologies and Standardized Diagnosis & Treatment", the conference aimed to:

• Explore pathways for standardizing China's radiotherapy technologies;
• Provide scientific guidance for primary hospitals;
• Strengthen the cultivation of specialized technical talent;
• Eliminate misconceptions about cancer among patients;
• Contribute to improving healthcare for grassroots populations;
• Support the realization of Healthy China goals.

This prestigious gathering attracted a multitude of distinguished radiotherapy experts, including Professor Tian Xiaoli, Vice President and Secretary-General of the Bethune Public Welfare Foundation; Professor Liu Youliang, Manuscript Editor of the People's Health Publishing House under the National Health Commission, Council Member and Deputy Secretary-General of the Bethune Public Welfare Foundation; Professor Wang Junjie, Chairman of the Radiotherapy Committee of the Chinese Medical Association and Director of the Radiotherapy Expert Committee of the Bethune Public Welfare Foundation; Professor Jiang Ping, Executive Secretary-General of the Radiotherapy Expert Committee of the Bethune Public Welfare Foundation; and all newly appointed committee members—all leading authorities in the field.​​

They convened to exchange cutting-edge technologies, latest achievements, innovative ideas, and visionary concepts in radiotherapy, infusing new energy into the development of Wuwei Heavy Ion Center.

​​The meeting was chaired by Professor Liu Yuanzhao, Director of the Department of Radiation Oncology at Beijing Hospital and Secretary-General of the Radiotherapy Expert Committee of the Bethune Public Welfare Foundation.​​ During the meeting, Professor Tian Xiaoli delivered the opening speech and read out the Decision on the Appointment of Additional Members to the First Radiotherapy Expert Committee, presenting appointment letters to Professor Jiang Ping, the newly appointed member and Executive Secretary-General. Professor Wang Junjie summarized the work of the Radiotherapy Expert Committee in 2023 and, together with Secretary-General Tian Xiaoli, presented appointment letters to the newly appointed members.

Additionally, the meeting heard work reports and exchanges from representatives of project hospitals regarding the Mother’s River · Cancer Prevention and Treatment Public Welfare Project. Professor Wang Junjie awarded certificates to outstanding cooperative hospitals for the project and delivered a concluding speech.

As a 4A-level charitable organization supervised by the Ministry of Civil Affairs, the Bethune Public Welfare Foundation has consistently strived to complement the government’s medical security system and improve social assistance mechanisms. Under the leadership of Professor Wang Junjie, who initiated its establishment, the Radiotherapy Expert Committee of the Bethune Public Welfare Foundation has prioritized “strengthening primary-level healthcare” as its primary goal. The committee has successfully launched public welfare initiatives such as the Mother’s River and Research and Academic Advancement projects, driving high-quality and standardized development of radiotherapy in China and making substantial contributions to the prevention and treatment of cancer.

​​Professor Wang Junjie presented an appointment letter to Professor Jiang Ping, the newly appointed member and Executive Secretary-General

Professor Wang Junjie presented certificates to outstanding cooperative hospitals for the project

Notably, carbon ion radiotherapy technology is internationally recognized as a cutting-edge treatment for tumors, boasting advantages such as high precision, low side effects, short treatment duration, high cure rate, and non-invasiveness.​​ Gansu Wuwei Cancer Hospital has achieved remarkable milestones in this field—the first and second Chinese heavy ion therapy systems have been successively installed at the Wuwei Heavy Ion Center of Wuwei Cancer Hospital and the Lanzhou Heavy Ion Center, respectively, realizing integrated heavy ion therapy operations.

To date, the Wuwei Heavy Ion Center has successfully treated over 1,500 patients from both domestic and international regions, demonstrating definitive efficacy and significant outcomes. Moving forward, Gansu Wuwei Cancer Hospital will actively collaborate with the Bethune Public Welfare Foundation, integrate Jingang Ion charitable cultural products, expand support for underprivileged patients, and contribute to social harmony and the Healthy China initiative.

​​The convening of this conference not only established a platform for in-depth exchanges and close collaboration among participants, but also injected new vitality into advancing synergistic development in the international medical and nuclear medicine fields.​​ We believe that through the joint efforts of all attendees, tumor radiotherapy technology will embrace a more prosperous era of development, bringing hope and healing to more cancer patients and writing a more magnificent chapter for the cause of global human health.