Heyou Hospital was granted the license for deployment of heavy ion radiation therapy system, according to the Notice on the Results of the 2025 License for Deployment of Class A Large Medical Equipment issued by the National Health Commission of China (NHC) on December 9, 2025. This license is a formal acknowledgment of the hospital's comprehensive capabilities and professional qualifications in deploying cutting-edge international radiation therapy technologies.
Heyou Hospital has been granted license for heavy ion radiation therapy system
National Deployment Licensing Policy Background and Significance
The deployment of large medical equipment, particularly Class A devices like proton and heavy ion radiation therapy systems, is an essential tool for optimizing the distribution of medical resources and guiding the high-quality development of the healthcare industry. The NHC's Plan for Deployment of Large Medical Equipment during the 14th Five-Year Plan Period articulates the core principles of "people-centered development" and "balanced distribution, expansion, and decentralization," aiming to deploy high-quality medical resources in a scientific and rational manner to enhance the accessibility and fairness of healthcare services.
Thus, the issuance of the deployment license is far more than a simple approval for equipment procurement. It results from a rigorous administrative review process that assesses the applicant's comprehensive capabilities across many areas such as overall strength, technical conditions, facilities, qualifications and skills of professional staff, and quality assurance capabilities. The license signifies that an organization is qualified and equipped to safely and effectively implement and operate the advanced technology platform to meet public health needs.
The Next Step: Heyou Proton and Heavy Ion Center's Future
Driven by the national license, the development of the Heyou Proton and Heavy Ion Center (HPHIC) will enter a new phase. This project is not only a practical response to the national strategy of balancing resource distribution but also serves as the core platform for Heyou Hospital to establish a world-class oncology treatment center.
HPHIC, with an investment of over RMB 2 billion, is equipped with the world-leading Hitachi proton-heavy ion integrated treatment system. Based on the compact synchrotron accelerator technology, this system achieves a seamless integration of proton and heavy ion multi-particle beams, incorporating several cutting-edge international features:
Multi-particle beam treatment: The compact synchrotron-based proton-heavy ion multi-particle beam integrated device offers the ability to select the optimal particle beam based on tumor type and clinical needs.
Full-coverage irradiation technology: The proton 360° rotating gantry and carbon ion multi-angle fixed beam system provide flexibility to meet precise treatment demands.
Advanced pencil beam scanning: Both proton and heavy ion beams are equipped with the latest pencil beam scanning technology, enabling highly conformal dose distribution to tumor targets.
Fine energy level modulation: Through precise energy control with synchrotron accelerators, this system provides accurate modulation of beam range and dose distribution, ensuring high-precision irradiation.
Multi-energy extraction (MEE): This system significantly reduces irradiation time, improving overall treatment efficiency and dose accuracy.
High-precision dose calculation: The advanced dose calculation engine, based on the Monte Carlo method, substantially enhances dose precision in complex scenarios.
Real-time dynamic tracking: Equipped with real-time imaging motion tracking gate technology, it can track the position of the target area in real-time to deliver gated beams, accurately compensating for respiratory movements.
Precision image guidance: Using cone-beam CT (CBCT) or in-room CT for three-dimensional image guidance ensures high-precision verification and adjustment of the irradiation area.
The center is designed to include 1 proton treatment room with 360° rotation, 2 heavy ion treatment rooms (supporting horizontal + vertical & horizontal + 45° multi-angle entries), with an additional room reserved for future upgrades. This forward-thinking hardware configuration ensures the best treatment options for tumors in complex locations.
Heyou Integrated Proton and Heavy Ion Equipment: Proton Therapy Room
Heyou Integrated Proton and Heavy Ion Equipment: Heavy Ion Therapy Room
Strong Clinical Expertise and Talent Team Led by Renowned Experts
The value of high-end equipment ultimately depends on a top-tier medical team. HPHIC is led by a distinguished team of experts from both China and abroad. HPHIC's director, Professor Lu Jiade, a high-caliber national talent and former Executive Vice President of Shanghai Proton and Heavy Ion Hospital, is one of the pioneers in applying proton and heavy ion therapy to clinical practice, with more than 30 years of experience in oncology.
Under Professor Lu's leadership, the center has assembled a professional team that includes radiation oncology experts, medical physicists, and radiation therapists, many of whom come from leading institutions such as Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center and Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, with extensive experience in particle therapy. International experts from institutions such as the University of Miami and New York Proton Center serve as advisors, ensuring HPHIC's technology aligns with global standards.
Wide-Ranging Applications, Benefiting Numerous Cancer Patients
Proton and heavy ion therapy is internationally recognized as a powerful tool in cancer treatment, with applications covering nearly all solid tumors. The technology is particularly effective for cancers that are prevalent in Guangdong, such as nasopharyngeal carcinoma, lung cancer, and tumors near critical organs that are difficult to treat surgically, including skull base tumors, prostate cancer, liver cancer, breast cancer, and pediatric cancers.
The therapy uses the "Bragg peak" to achieve "stereotactic precision explosion"—proton and heavy ion beams release minimal energy before reaching the tumor, then deliver all their energy upon impact, effectively destroying cancer cells while protecting surrounding healthy tissue. This significantly improves treatment outcomes and enhances patients' quality of life.
Advancing Research Collaboration and Innovation
HPHIC places great emphasis on scientific research and innovation. It has partnered with Soochow University to establish the South China Clinical Center under the State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection. Led by Chinese Academy of Sciences Member Chai Zhifang, the South China Clinical Center brings together many top experts for a powerful synergy between clinical practice and research.
Additionally, the center has established a graduate workstation at Soochow University's School of Radiation Medicine and Protection, focused on innovating graduate training in radiology and boosting talent development, continuously supplying the industry with professionals.
Looking Ahead: From Licensing to Patient Care
Receiving the deployment license is a crucial milestone in advancing the project. Going forward, HPHIC will strictly follow national regulations and make progress in line with the established roadmap, with equipment testing and clinical validation scheduled to be completed by 2026.
The center has opened a consultation clinic for proton and heavy ion therapy, providing personalized evaluations and treatment options for patients through a rigorous multidisciplinary diagnostic and treatment model (MDT). "The deployment license is a recognition of Heyou's comprehensive strength and a demonstration of society's support for our mission of benefiting our hometown and giving back to society," said Professor Lu Jiade, Director of HPHIC. "We will accelerate the project to the highest standards and strive to offer international-class proton and heavy ion radiation therapy to patients as soon as possible, contributing to elevating China's cancer prevention and treatment capabilities and building a healthier China."
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