The Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral & Research Hospital’s Cyclotron machine was officially delivered to the Integrated Molecular Imaging Center (IMIC).
The cyclotron is the machine that produces the radioisotopes that are used as a tracer for cancer in patients. These radioisotopes are also used to monitor the remission or progression of cancer in the patient.
See: COMING SOON: An Integrated Molecular Imaging Centre (IMIC)
The CS, MoH, Sen. Mutahi Kagwe flags off the Cyclotron Machine at KUTRRH
The delivery and rigging of this machine was witnessed by the Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Health, Sen. Mutahi Kagwe, Chairperson of KUTRRH Board of Directors, Prof. Olive Mugenda, Chief Executive Officer for General Electric (East Africa), Ms. Brenda Mbathi, KUTRRH Ag CEO, Dr. Victor Njom, Members of the Hospital Management and staff.
The First in Eastern & Central Africa
While speaking during the event, the CS Kagwe lauded the hospital for the bold move to bridge the cancer gap in the country. KUTRRH sees this as a huge opportunity to increase access to quality cancer care. This is through addressing existing gaps and potential future growth through innovative, care delivery models.
“Let me take this earliest opportunity to thank the Board of Directors and Management for taking this bold step. This Cyclotron will be the largest in Eastern and Central Africa and has capacity to produce consumables for domestic use in the region. In addition, a 256 Slice CT Scanner and 3T MRI has been delivered, installed and user training undertaken. It is currently in use at the Imaging Department,” Said CS Kagwe.
The construction progress is well on course. As of today, the IMIC project is 71.79% complete with the superstructure works on the ground floor, first floor and upper floor 100% complete.
Features of IMIC
The IMIC has the following unique features:
- The cyclotron can produce radioisotopes for PET/CTs in other hospitals in addition to the 2 at the facility
- The centre will, therefore, have the capacity to supply other hospitals in the country and the region with the required radio-isotopes
- The centre will be run on a HUB AND SPOKE model with IMIC at KUTRRH as the anchor establishment (HUB) supporting PET/CT establishments in counties and other hospitals (SPOKES) through the provision of Radio-Isotopes and Capacity building.
- Radioisotopes will be produced at KUTRRH IMIC, packaged safely and dispatched to other hospitals locally and in the region
- Production and packaging will be done in strict adherence to the Good Manufacturing Practices deployed following regulatory requirements.
- The construction of the centre has been approved by Kenya Nuclear Regulatory Authority, and Pharmacy and Poisons Board. Licence for operations will also be issued by the two bodies.
- The IMIC at KUTRRH has a training centre that will provide training and capacity building for staff running the PET/CTs at the Hospitals in Counties and the entire region.
Hospitality Center
The Chairperson of the Hospital Board noted that the hospital is also constructing the hospitality centre for the patients and their relatives. This is informed by the need for accommodation when patients and relatives, from far, need accommodation services as patients receive treatment. The accommodation centre has a capacity of 100 standard rooms.