Cross-Regional Dialogue on High-Quality Hospital Development — Zhengzhou University First Affiliated Hospital Expert Team Visits Wuwei Heavy Ion Therapy Center

On July 13, a delegation of eight led by Jiang Yong, Vice President of Zhengzhou University and President of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, along with Gu Long, Deputy Director of the National Nuclear Industry Research Institute of Lanzhou University, visited the Wuwei Heavy Ion Center of Gansu Wuwei Cancer Hospital for research and exchange. The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University is the world's largest hospital by bed capacity, revenue, and patient volume. Focusing on the core theme of "high-quality hospital development," this research visit—through on-site inspections and in-depth discussions—explored practical pathways for domestic innovation of high-end medical equipment to advance hospital development, while establishing a collaborative platform for universities and hospitals to jointly promote independent innovation in medical technology and empower high-quality hospital development.

The delegation visited the treatment hall, physics planning room, central control room, and smart hall of the Wuwei Heavy Ion Center, gaining an in-depth understanding of its clinical operations, supporting facilities and equipment, as well as advanced heavy ion therapy technologies. The center's standardized diagnostic and treatment system, innovative whole-life-cycle health management model, comfortable and patient-friendly medical environment, and highly professional talent team left a profound impression on the delegation.

During the exchange, Dean Jiang Yong and his team inquired in detail about the full-process innovative practices of the domestically developed heavy ion therapy system—from R&D and implementation to clinical application. They spoke highly of the center's achievements in achieving core technology independence, precisely enhancing clinical efficacy, and optimizing medical costs. Dean Jiang noted, "The localization of high-end medical equipment is a key driver for high-quality hospital development. The practices of Wuwei Heavy Ion Center provide a valuable model for the 'technology autonomy + clinical efficiency' paradigm of high-quality development, which deserves in-depth study and wider promotion."

Gu Long, Deputy Director of the National Nuclear Industry Research Institute at Lanzhou University, shared insights on technological breakthroughs and achievement transformation in the domestic production of heavy ion therapy equipment from the perspective of "industry-academia-research-application" collaboration with the hospital team. He remarked, "The domestic production of heavy ion therapy equipment represents not only a breakthrough in medical technology but also a model for advancing high-quality hospital development through the industrial integration of 'nuclear technology + healthcare.' We look forward to future university-hospital cooperation to jointly drive iterative upgrades of domestic technologies, injecting sustained momentum into high-quality development."

The Wuwei Heavy Ion Center, hailed as the "Jinggangshan" of ion radiotherapy by the industry, is the birthplace of China's domestically developed heavy ion therapy systems. As the world's only hospital operating two heavy ion therapy systems, it has accumulated extensive clinical experience in heavy ion therapy and established a comprehensive tumor treatment system through continuous innovation. To date, over 2,000 patients from all Chinese provinces and municipalities, as well as international patients from Australia, Belgium, South Korea, Malaysia, and Thailand, have received treatment here with remarkable therapeutic outcomes.

This high-level expert delegation's visit and exchange not only affirm the Wuwei Heavy Ion Center's pioneering efforts in advancing high-quality development through domestic equipment innovation, but also present a significant opportunity for university-hospital collaboration to explore pathways for healthcare quality enhancement. Moving forward, the Center will leverage this exchange to deepen partnerships with top-tier universities and hospitals, continuously drive high-quality development through domestic innovation, and contribute greater strength to medical technology self-reliance and public health security.