From National Licensing to Capacity Building: The Industry Significance and Prospects of HeYou Hospital's Configuration Permit Approval

On December 9, 2025, the National Health Commission issued the "Notice on the Results of the 2025 Configuration Licensing for Class A Large Medical Equipment." HeYou Hospital successfully obtained the configuration license for a heavy ion radiotherapy system. This license represents the state's official recognition of the hospital's comprehensive strength and professional qualifications to host internationally advanced radiotherapy technology.

Policy Background and Core Significance of National Configuration Licensing

The configuration management of large medical equipment, especially Class A devices such as proton/heavy ion radiotherapy systems, is a crucial policy tool for the state to optimize the layout of medical resources and guide high-quality development in the industry. According to the "14th Five-Year Plan for Large Medical Equipment Configuration" issued by the National Health Commission, its core principles lie in "People-Centered, Promoting Development" and "Balanced Layout, Expanding and Sinking Resources," aiming to promote the scientific and rational allocation of high-quality medical resources, ultimately enhancing the accessibility and equity of medical services.

Therefore, the issuance of a "Configuration License" is far more than a simple approval for equipment procurement. It is the result of a rigorous administrative review process, the essence of which is a national-level prudent assessment of the applying medical institution's comprehensive strength, technical conditions, supporting facilities, qualifications and capabilities of professional technical personnel, and quality assurance capabilities. Obtaining the license signifies that the institution has the "access qualification" and "professional credentials" to host and safely and effectively utilize this cutting-edge technology platform to serve public health needs.

Embracing the License, Striving for Excellence: The Future Practice of HeYou Proton and Heavy Ion Center

Based on this national-level qualification recognition, the construction of the HeYou Proton and Heavy Ion Center will enter a new phase. This project is not only a concrete practice in response to the national policy of balanced distribution of high-quality resources but also the core vehicle for the hospital to build a world-class oncology diagnosis and treatment platform.

With a total investment exceeding RMB 2 billion, the HeYou Proton and Heavy Ion Center has introduced the world-leading Hitachi integrated proton and heavy ion therapy system. Based on compact synchrotron accelerator technology, this system achieves a perfect integration of proton and heavy ion "multi-particle beams" and possesses several internationally advanced technical features:

Multi-Particle Beam Therapy Capability: An integrated proton and heavy ion "multi-particle beam" device based on a compact synchrotron accelerator, allowing selection of the optimal particle beam according to different tumor types and clinical needs.

Full-Coverage Irradiation Technology: Equipped with a proton 360° rotating gantry and a carbon ion multi-angle fixed beam "full-coverage" irradiation system, flexibly adapting to the demands of precise treatment.

Advanced Pencil Beam Scanning: Both proton and heavy ion systems are equipped with the most advanced "pencil beam scanning" technology, achieving a highly conformal dose distribution to the tumor target.

Precise Energy Level Adjustment: Relying on the fine energy regulation of the synchrotron accelerator, it achieves precise conformation of beam range and dose distribution, enabling "sculpting"-like high-precision irradiation.

Multi-Energy Extraction (MEE) Technology: Significantly reduces irradiation time, improving overall treatment efficiency and dose accuracy.

High-Precision Dose Algorithm: Employs an advanced dose calculation engine based on the Monte Carlo method, significantly enhancing the accuracy of dose calculation in complex scenarios.

Real-Time Dynamic Tracking: Equipped with real-time imaging "moving target tracking" gating technology, which implements gated beam delivery by tracking the target position in real-time, achieving precise compensation for respiratory motion.

Precision Image Guidance System: The treatment room utilizes cone-beam CT (CBCT) or in-room CT 3D image guidance to achieve high-precision verification and correction of the irradiation site.

The center plans to include: 1 proton treatment room with a 360° rotating gantry, 2 heavy ion treatment rooms (supporting horizontal+vertical and horizontal+45° multi-angle incidence), and 1 reserved treatment room for future technology upgrades. This forward-looking hardware configuration provides the optimal solution for treating tumors in different sites, especially complex ones.

Led by an Authoritative Team, Building a Solid Clinical and Talent Foundation

The value of high-end equipment is ultimately realized through a top-tier medical team. The HeYou Proton and Heavy Ion Center is led by a team of renowned domestic and international experts. Professor Lu Jiade, the center director, is a nationally recognized high-level talent and former Executive Vice President of Shanghai Proton and Heavy Ion Hospital. He is one of the first senior experts in China to apply proton and heavy ion technology clinically, with over 30 years of experience in oncology diagnosis and treatment.

Under Professor Lu's leadership, the center has assembled a professional team including radiation oncologists, medical physicists, and radiation therapists. Many core members come from top domestic institutions such as Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center and Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, possessing extensive clinical experience in particle therapy. The team has also engaged international experts from the University of Miami and the New York Proton Center as project advisors to ensure the technology remains at the international forefront.

Clear Indications, Benefiting a Wide Range of Cancer Patients

Proton and heavy ion therapy is internationally recognized as a "cancer-fighting weapon" in the field of radiotherapy, with a wide range of indications covering almost all solid tumors. It is particularly advantageous for nasopharyngeal carcinoma and lung cancer, which are prevalent in the Guangdong region, as well as for skull base tumors, prostate cancer, liver cancer, breast cancer, and pediatric tumors that are difficult to operate on due to their proximity to vital organs, demonstrating its precision and low toxicity.

This technology leverages the physical properties of the "Bragg Peak" to achieve a "stereotactic precision blast" effect—the proton/heavy ion beam releases very little energy before reaching the tumor lesion, then releases all its energy instantaneously upon arrival, powerfully killing cancer cells while maximally protecting surrounding normal tissues, significantly improving treatment outcomes and patient quality of life.

Scientific Research Collaboration and Innovation Development

The HeYou Proton and Heavy Ion Center places great emphasis on scientific research and innovation. The center has established the South China Clinical Center of the State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Radiation Protection in collaboration with Soochow University. Led by Academician Chai Zhifang of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, it brings together numerous high-level experts, forming a powerful synergy between clinical practice and scientific research.

Furthermore, the center has established a Graduate Workstation of the School of Radiation Medicine and Protection at Soochow University, dedicated to innovating the training model and improving the quality of graduate education in the field of radiation medicine in China, continuously supplying professional talent to the industry.

Looking Ahead: From License Approval to Serving Patients

Obtaining the configuration license is a key milestone for the project. Next, the HeYou Proton and Heavy Ion Center will strictly adhere to national regulatory requirements and steadily advance subsequent work according to the established roadmap. It is expected that equipment commissioning and clinical validation will be completed in 2026.

Currently, the center has already opened a proton and heavy ion consultation clinic, providing personalized assessment and treatment plans for patients through a rigorous multidisciplinary team (MDT) approach. Professor Lu Jiade, Director of the HeYou Proton and Heavy Ion Center, stated: "The successful approval of the configuration license is a recognition of HeYou's comprehensive strength and the support from all sectors of society for HeYou's original aspiration of 'benefiting the homeland and giving back to society.' We will accelerate the project with the highest standards, striving to provide patients with world-class proton and heavy ion radiotherapy services as soon as possible, contributing to meeting the people's multi-level and diverse health service needs, improving China's cancer prevention and treatment levels, and building a Healthy China."

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