Chongqing - Chinese medical institutions and a Chongqing-based medtech company are deepening partnerships with African hospitals in focused-ultrasound treatment, physician training and clinical research, shifting the focus from supplying equipment to building lasting local treatment capacity.

The cooperation was highlighted at the second China-Africa Hospital Development Conference and China Hospeq 2026, held from August 14 to 16 at the China National Convention Center in Beijing.

African health ministers, ambassadors and medical professionals discussed AI, medical equipment, specialty care and localization as China’s medical device exports rose 12.47% to $27.1 billion in the first half of 2026.

African visitors tour the China Hospeq 2026 exhibition. (Photo/Chongqing Haifu Medical Technology)

Haifu trains African doctors to deliver treatment locally

One focus of the conference was high-intensity focused ultrasound, or HIFU, which uses concentrated ultrasound energy to destroy targeted tissue from outside the body without surgical incisions.

Established in August 2025 and led by Suining Central Hospital, the China-Africa working group includes Chongqing Haifu as a technical member, alongside a national ultrasound research center and hospitals in South Africa, Tanzania, Kenya and Nigeria.

A Haifu staff member demonstrates the Haifu Knife system to attendees. (Photo/Chongqing Haifu Medical Technology)

Over the past year, the group has focused on clinical research into HIFU applications and China-Africa health data studies.

During the conference, Suining Central Hospital signed a memorandum of cooperation with Kairuki University and Kairuki Hospital in Tanzania covering a multicenter clinical study on HIFU treatment for prostate diseases, as well as teaching and research.

Haifu is expected to provide technical support, including equipment commissioning, clinical data analysis, and technical guidance.

Tang Yinghao, Haifu's Africa regional manager, said the model combines equipment, systematic training for local doctors and remote clinical support.

The goal, he said, is to enable African medical teams to operate treatment services locally without depending on Chinese personnel being permanently stationed at hospitals.

Remote treatment links Chongqing and Nairobi

A case in Kenya illustrates how that model is being applied.

In March 2025, a woman at the Nairobi Haifu Center with a 10-centimeter uterine fibroid underwent focused-ultrasound ablation with remote technical support from specialists in Chongqing, more than 8,000 kilometers away, according to Tang.

Using a 5G-enabled remote system, specialists at a focused-ultrasound collaborative service center in Chongqing supported the procedure conducted in Nairobi.

Haifu works with a medical team in Kenya to perform the world's first international 5G-enabled remote focused-ultrasound ablation procedure. (Photo/Chongqing Haifu Medical Technology)

The patient remained conscious, did not require general anesthesia and was able to leave after treatment without a prolonged hospital stay, Tang said.

He said the case represented a shift from simply transporting medical equipment overseas toward combining local patient care with cross-border technical cooperation.

That issue is particularly relevant in hospitals where beds and blood supplies can be under pressure.

A physician at the Nairobi center said the technology allows doctors to provide safe and efficient treatment for more women under limited medical conditions.

In Nigeria, Ajayi, a physician at the Nordica center, said avoiding blood loss and transfusion was an important consideration for patients with uterine fibroids.

"The most important thing is that the procedure does not require a blood transfusion," Ajayi said, adding that preserving reproductive options is also important for many women seeking treatment.

Expanding research and long-term partnerships

The cooperation has also developed over a longer period in South Africa.

A focused-ultrasound system was introduced at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, also known as Bara Hospital,  in 2015. According to Tang, more than 1,000 patients from South Africa and neighboring countries have since received organ-preserving treatment there.

Among them were women with uterine fibroids who wanted to avoid hysterectomy, he said. Some later became pregnant and gave birth.

For African medical professionals attending training in China, the ability to treat patients without conventional surgery was also a focus.

The Haifu team provides training for local medical staff at Bara Hospital in South Africa. (Photo/Chongqing Haifu Medical Technology)

After attending the training program, Dr. Muzaza A.M. Nthele, health counsellor at the Embassy of Zambia in China, said patients could remain conscious and communicate with doctors throughout the procedure.

"There is no incision and no scar," Nthele said. "This technology is very suitable for promotion in Africa."

The working group is also seeking to develop local research capability rather than limiting cooperation to clinical treatment. Its activities include joint clinical studies, health data research, physician exchanges and training programs for African medical staff.

Tang said Chinese experts also travel to African hospitals for on-site instruction, while remote systems can be used for difficult cases and technical guidance.

Haifu said its focused-ultrasound products are now used in 36 countries and regions and have treated more than 370,000 patients globally. The next stage of the China-Africa working group will focus on clinical services, research, education and talent training.