KNH resumes radiotherapy and installs new machine

A patient set to undergo radiotherapy at KNH, Nairobi, in January. The radiotherapy machine that had broken down resumed work on September 4, 2015. FILE PHOTO |

What you need to know:

  • The installation brings to two, the number of radiotherapy machines in public hospitals in Kenya.
  • Only one of the older machines was operational following the grounding of the other that was found irreparable.
  • The machine has been treating about 100 patients every day, double its capacity, and was susceptible to breakdown.

The Kenyatta National Hospital has resumed radiotherapy for cancer patients after the machine that broke down on Monday was repaired.

Corporate Affairs and Communications Manager Simon Ithai on Friday said they would treat patients as they had been scheduled before the mishap.

A linear accelerator, an additional radiotherapy machine, has also been installed and is awaiting testing and commissioning, according to Mr Ithai.

“KNH has finalised installation of a new state-of-the-art Linac cancer treatment machine that will increase patient treatment efficiency by 60-80 percent as compared to the current cancer machine,” he said in a statement.

100 CASES A DAY

“The new machine is undergoing testing and commissioning and will commence treatment in a month’s time. The government has supported the procurement of the new machine and construction of the bunker at a cost of Sh300 million,” he added.

The installation brings to two, the number of radiotherapy machines in public hospitals in Kenya.

Only one of the older machines was operational following the grounding of the other that was found irreparable.

The machine has been treating about 100 patients every day, double its capacity, and was susceptible to breakdown.

SH500 PER SESSION

Most patients can only afford treatment at KNH, which charges Sh500 per session as compared to private hospitals whose rates range from Sh3,000 to Sh10,000.

KNH, the only public hospital offering radiotherapy in Kenya, is staring at a queue that stretches into next year and it is hopes the new higher-capacity machine will ease the backlog.

About 80 percent of all cancer patients require radiotherapy.

It is estimated that there are about 39,000 new cases of cancer in Kenya each year and over 27,000 deaths over the same period.