AGA KHAN UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL UNVEILS AI-ENABLED RADIOTHERAPY TECHNOLOGY TO ADVANCE CANCER CARE

Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi (AKUH), has unveiled a KES 800 million AI-enabled radiotherapy system designed to deliver highly precise cancer treatment while significantly reducing treatment times. The TrueBeam Radiotherapy System shortens conventional radiotherapy sessions to under 10 minutes, down from approximately 20 minutes, improving patient comfort and enabling faster, more efficient care. The advanced technology allows clinicians to target tumors with sub-millimeter precision, minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissue, reducing side effects, and improving treatment outcomes and overall quality of life for patients. The system is used to treat a wide range of cancers including breast, prostate, cervical, head and neck, lung, liver, brain, spinal, and pediatric tumors, as well as selected metastatic lesions requiring stereotactic radiotherapy. Speaking during the launch, Ministry of Education Principal Secretary for Science, Research and Innovation, Prof. Abdulrazak Shaukat, commended the hospital for its leadership in advancing cancer treatment and strengthening Kenya’s capacity in medical innovation and research. “In Kenya, we record approximately 42,000 new cancer cases every year, and access to quality treatment remains a critical gap. Establishing comprehensive cancer centers requires significant investment. While the national government has made progress in expanding cancer and radiotherapy facilities, the goal is to strengthen collaboration and create greater synergy in advancing precision medicine and early diagnosis,” he said. “We are therefore pleased to see Aga Khan University Hospital playing a critical role in advancing clinical excellence. Through such partnerships, we are steadily positioning Kenya as a regional hub for advanced healthcare, medical research, and innovation,” he added. Cancer is now one of the leading causes of death on the African continent. According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), approximately 1.2 million new cancer cases were recorded in Africa in 2022, a number projected to double to 2.4 million annually by 2045. “As a leader in healthcare innovation, we are proud to contribute to the transformation of cancer care across Sub-Saharan Africa by expanding access to specialised services,” said Rashid Khalani, Chief Executive Officer of Aga Khan University Hospital. TrueBeam technology remains rare across the African continent, with availability limited to a small number of centres in South Africa, Egypt, Kenya, and Nigeria. Its introduction at AKUH places the hospital among a select group of institutions in Sub-Saharan Africa offering next-generation radiotherapy. “With 64 percent of cancer patients in Africa facing the highest mortality-to-incidence ratio globally, compared to 26 percent in Western countries, patients can now access world-class cancer treatment locally without the need to travel abroad, supported by our highly skilled and internationally trained clinical teams,” he added. Aga Khan University Hospital has long been at the forefront of cancer diagnostics and treatment in the region. In 2018, the hospital became the first in East Africa to install a PET-CT scanner and cyclotron, laying the foundation for advanced molecular imaging and precision oncology. “TrueBeam allows us to deliver radiation with an unprecedented level of precision,” said Dr. Angela Waweru, Section Head of Radiotherapy at AKUH. “By minimizing exposure to nearby organs, we can reduce side effects and support faster recovery for our patients.” “This represents a significant advancement from the linear accelerator technology we have relied on for over a decade,” Dr. Waweru added. “It aligns our radiotherapy services with global best practices and allows us to deliver faster, safer, and more accurate cancer care.” The introduction of TrueBeam further strengthens AKUH’s commitment to delivering comprehensive, state-of-the-art cancer care across the full continent, from diagnosis to treatment and follow-up.