Watson for Oncology to Expand to 150 Municipal Hospitals in China; Watson for Genomics Set for Imminent Launch

On May 7, VCBeat learned at the 9th China Hospital Presidents Conference that Watson for Oncology, distributed by Baiyang Intelligent Technology, was officially launched on the market.Within one year, Baiyang Intelligent Technology will facilitate the introduction of Watson for Oncology at 150 prefecture-level tertiary general hospitals and implement corresponding physician training programs.. According to Wang Biquan, Chief Marketing Officer of Baiyang Intelligent Technology, the company has already received expressions of interest in collaboration from many hospitals,Based on current market response, the pace and scale of hospital adoption will far exceed initial projections, with the actual number of hospitals implementing Watson for Oncology expected to range between 150 and 300.

Regarding hospital selection, Fu Gang, Chairman of Baiyang Pharmaceutical Group and Baiyang Intelligent Technology, stated: “Generally, two facilities will be established in each provincial capital city, and one in each prefecture-level city. This is merely a preliminary arrangement; additional placements may be considered for megacities or other special circumstances.”

ForCost Issues,Ding Huamin, Secretary of the Party Committee of Qingdao Municipal Hospital, stated, “We first consulted with the Price Bureau. As one of the seven pilot cities for price regulation in China, Qingdao is positioned to take the lead in implementing new pricing standards nationwide, particularly for emerging high-tech medical procedures.”"In the absence of approval from the pricing authorities,"，We have opted for a trial implementation of independent pricing., we provide patients with an informed consent form that details the fee structure. Upon patient consent, the payment is transferred to the Yi Fuzhen platform under Baiyang Group. Within three years, if the Price Bureau approves the standards, the pricing will adhere to the standards set by the price regulatory authorities.”

Wang Biquan, Chief Marketing Officer of Baiyang Intelligent Technology, and Fu Gang stated: “Baiyang does not charge hospitals; fees are primarily paid by patients on a per-use basis. Patients are informed of the specific allocation of costs prior to payment and may choose voluntarily.”。”

In mid-August 2016, Watson Health announced its entry into China. On March 28, 2017, Watson Health signed an agreement with Baiyang Intelligent Technology, a subsidiary of Baiyang Pharmaceutical Group, in Beijing, through which Watson for Oncology would enter the Chinese market. Just one month later, two public Grade A tertiary hospitals in Qingdao simultaneously introduced the Watson for Oncology artificial intelligence solution via Baiyang Intelligent Technology. Qingdao Municipal Hospital and the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University established the “Watson Intelligent Oncology Consultation Center” and the “Watson International Oncology Diagnosis and Treatment Center,” respectively.

VCBeat learned from Ding Huamin, Party Secretary of Qingdao Municipal Hospital, that in the week since Watson was introduced, medical staff had tested the Watson system on dozens of tumor cases after receiving preliminary training. Meanwhile, a panel of experts discussed these cases and developed treatment plans. Subsequent comparison confirmed that the treatment plans formulated by the expert panel aligned with those recommended by the Watson system, demonstrating that Watson can provide oncology specialists with reasonable treatment options and valuable supplementary insights, thereby serving as a capable tool and assistant for medical professionals.

Meanwhile, Ding Huamin stated, “In fact, there is a strong demand among cancer patients for treatment plans and confirmation of their health status. In the past, many patients would seek treatment at hospitals in first-tier cities or even abroad after receiving local care or before their condition was fully diagnosed. Now that local Grade A tertiary hospitals have introduced world-leading artificial intelligence technologies, unnecessary treatment expenses for patients can be reduced, sparing them from traveling extensively. From this perspective, it can enhance patients’ trust in hospitals and strengthen their engagement with both hospitals and physicians.”

In addition to its role in disease treatment, Watson for Oncology serves four other functions for hospitals:

First, Watson for Oncology will help hospitals establish an advanced image in cancer treatment. Ding Huamin stated that by leveraging Watson’s renown and authority in the field of oncology, hospitals can enhance their influence in cancer care and achieve development synchronized with world-leading cancer centers. Furthermore, Watson can assist hospitals in establishing patient-centered cancer treatment models and workflows, thereby improving the quality of medical care.

Second,Watson for Oncology will significantly enhance the hospital's profitability and efficiency.. As differentiated treatments yield better therapeutic outcomes, they will attract more patients to the hospital, enhance patient trust in the institution and its physicians, strengthen patient loyalty, and reduce patient attrition, thereby improving medical efficiency and operational economic benefits.

Third,Watson Oncology Center to Increase Training for Young Physicians. As the Watson treatment regimen is based on cases and experience from the world’s leading oncology centers, it provides evidence-based recommendations for treatment plans, including those not recommended along with the rationale, thereby enhancing the capabilities of junior physicians.

Fourth,The Oncology Center Will Promote Multidisciplinary CollaborationThe integration of Watson has enabled the hospital to establish a Multidisciplinary Consultation Center. The wealth of successful treatment cases will provide additional learning and reference materials for consultations, facilitate targeted case studies, enhance communication among various oncology disciplines, and improve the efficiency of multidisciplinary consultations.

At today’s meeting, Wu Yiduo announced that Watson’s new product, Watson for Genomics, is set to launch. Watson for Genomics delivers personalized treatment recommendations—particularly precise medication guidance—by integrating insights from patient DNA analysis, reviews of scientific literature, and patient data, aligning closely with the current trend toward precision medicine.

VCBeat has also confirmed with Fu Gang that Baiyang Intelligent Technology has already contacted Watson Health, and the product will be launched in China within three months.