Kenyan cancer patients can now breathe a sigh of relief following the launch of a faster, more precise, and advanced AI-enabled radiotherapy system at Aga Khan University Hospital in Nairobi. The hospital has installed the Sh800 million TrueBeam radiotherapy system, a state-of-the-art technology designed to deliver highly targeted radiation therapy in less than 10 minutes per session, which is about half the time required for conventional radiotherapy treatments. This development marks a significant milestone in the fight against cancer in Kenya, where access to advanced treatment facilities has been a persistent challenge.
Hospital officials have highlighted the system's capability to offer sub-millimetre precision when targeting tumors. This precision is crucial as it helps protect surrounding healthy tissue, thereby reducing side effects and improving patient outcomes. The technology is versatile and can treat a wide range of cancers, including breast, prostate, cervical, head and neck, lung, liver, brain, and spinal tumors, as well as selected metastatic and pediatric cancers. This broad applicability is expected to benefit many patients across the country who require specialised care.
Kenya records approximately 42,000 new cancer cases each year, according to government estimates. The introduction of the TrueBeam system is a significant step towards addressing the critical gap in access to quality cancer treatment. Science, Research and Innovation Principal Secretary Abdulrazak Shaukat emphasized the importance of partnerships between the government and private healthcare institutions in strengthening precision medicine and early diagnosis. He noted that such collaborations are essential for positioning Kenya as a regional hub for advanced healthcare.
Cancer remains one of the leading causes of death in Africa. Data from the International Agency for Research on Cancer indicates that the continent recorded about 1.2 million new cancer cases in 2022, with projections suggesting this figure could rise to 2.4 million annually by 2045. The introduction of advanced technologies like TrueBeam is vital in combating this growing health crisis.
Aga Khan Hospital Chief Executive Officer Rashid Khalani expressed optimism that the new technology would significantly expand access to specialised cancer treatment in Sub-Saharan Africa. TrueBeam technology is still rare on the continent, with only a few centres in countries such as South Africa, Egypt, Kenya, and Nigeria currently offering this advanced radiotherapy platform. This makes the installation at Aga Khan University Hospital a pivotal development in enhancing cancer care in the region.
