Chongqing's Pioneering Enterprise Leads Effort in Minimally Invasive and Virtual Surgery

Chongqing - On March 7, the 5th Global Multicenter Telemedicine Womb-preserving Campaign was successfully held in Liangjiang New Area, Chongqing, under the guidance of Chongqing Charity Federation, jointly organized by the International Society of Minimally Invasive and Virtual Surgery (ISMIVS), the State Key Laboratory of Ultrasound in Medicine and Engineering (SKLUME) and National Engineering Research Center of Ultrasound Medicine in China (NERCUM), and in conjunction with 201 hospitals worldwide. The SKLUME also recognized 38 medical workers in the Campaign, considering their special contribution to popularizing focused ultrasound ablation therapy with social media.

Mr. Kuang Youzhi, the Vice Chairman of the Chongqing Charity Federation, said in his speech that he hoped that with better and faster development, more people would know about ultrasound ablation technology. He encouraged more social organizations to protect women’s health: “Medical treatment is not only about using a scalpel, but also about humanistic care, and we sincerely wish that every woman will have a healthy and happy life.”

Prof. Philippe Descamps, the President of ISMIVS, addressed, “As Past FIGO Vice President and President of the International Society of Minimally Invasive and Non-Invasive Surgery, we place women’s healthcare and well-being across their life course at the heart of our cause. The promotion of minimally invasive and non-invasive technology for the preservation of organ integrity and function is paramount and will benefit women all around the world.”

Prof. Wang Zhibiao, Director of SKLUME, addressed that the number of hysterectomies in the world is more than 6 million per year, for which there are 2 million in China, and the public welfare activities to protect women’s uterus and breasts are just the beginning in Chongqing and will radiate across the country and influence the world in the future. 

In the Campaign, the Haifu Public Welfare Foundation of Chongqing Charity Federation and the Charity Association of Liangjiang New Area jointly launched the “SHE Wellness” charity program. Mr. Xu Shu, Head of the Public Welfare Program, said that “it’s a new project for breast protection after the “Jiu Jiu Wei Gong”(meaning long-term efforts) uterus protection public program in 2023. The program has already funded 114 economically disadvantaged, disabled, multi-child women and female teachers in Chongqing, Liangshan Prefecture in Sichuan, Xinjiang Ushi County. Now, the team has 52 public service ambassadors and hundreds of volunteers.

During the event, two hundred-one hospitals worldwide performed HIFU therapy simultaneously on live, and hundreds of women suffering from gynecological disorders such as uterine fibroids and breast diseases received this non-invasive and uterus/breast-preserving treatment. 

Remote telemedicine support was provided to the PatRangsit Hospital, Thailand, from Chongqing during the event on March 7. 

Prof. Zhang Lian, Director of Chongqing Haifu Hospital; Prof. Alexander Mustea, Head of the Department for Gynecology and Gynecological Oncology of University Hospital Bonn, Germany;  Prof. Mohamed Hamed, Assistant Professor of Cairo University in Egypt; Prof. Yang Wuwei of the Fifth Medical Center of the General Hospital of the People’s Liberation Army in China, and Prof. Xu Yonghua of the Xuhui Hospital of Fudan University in China, discussed the case of uterine fibroids which was performing at the PatRangsit Hospital, Thailand.

Prof. Zhang Lian said that focused ultrasound ablation technology is not limited to uterine and breast diseases but can also be used for some liver tumors, bone tumors, and other diseases. The 2023 Focused Ultrasound Foundation Annual Report has published 166 clinically independent indications. 

Currently, Haifu® Focused Ultrasound Tumor Therapeutic Systems manufactured in Chongqing have been exported to 31 countries and regions, including the UK, Germany, and Japan. They are used in more than 400 medical institutions at home and abroad. By the end of 2023, focused ultrasound ablation procedures have treated more than 280,000 patients with benign and malignant tumors worldwide.

(Yang Naiyi, as an intern, also contributed to this report.)