The country is actively collaborating with specialized institutions to advance this vital sector.
On November 28, 2025, the Cabinet approved partnership agreements to introduce nuclear medicine services in Rwanda.
Nuclear medicine specializes in diagnostic imaging of the body, utilizing advanced equipment that is often scarce due to the high cost of the technology.
Two key machines in this field are the Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) and Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scan.
Rwanda has already acquired a PET scan as part of its efforts to enhance medical services.
For patients with diseases that are not detectable by traditional imaging, radioactive tracers derived from nuclear energy are injected into their bodies.
These tracers help guide specialized cameras that detect the disease, providing detailed insights into internal body activity.
This method is particularly useful for identifying conditions such as heart disease, cancer, brain disorders, and neurological issues.
Before surgery or other treatments, nuclear medicine allows doctors to visualize exactly what they are dealing with, eliminating the need for invasive exploratory procedures typically required to diagnose unknown conditions.
Nuclear medicine plays a crucial role in treating complex conditions, such as brain cancer, where even the slightest error in diagnosis or treatment can have significant consequences.
New agreements to launch "nuclear medicine" in Rwanda were signed between the Government of Rwanda and Aegle Onco Care Center Ltd., a medical service provider based in Mauritius. The service will be available at the Military Hospital in Kanombe, Kigali, which also houses the Rwanda Cancer Centre (RCC).
In May 2025, Minister Dr. Sabin Nsanzimana informed members of the Parliamentary Committee on State Budget and Patrimony that Rwanda would have this machine by the end of the year.
"I can assure you that the PET Scan machine is on track to arrive in Rwanda. We have completed all the necessary preparations, and we expect it to be here by the end of this year," he said.
IGIHE has learned that Rwanda will launch nuclear medicine services in 2026, utilizing a machine called Cyclotron. This machine produces the radiotracers used by doctors to detect early-stage cancer. Additionally, IGIHE has learned that most of the necessary equipment is already in place.
These advanced machines will complement existing cancer treatment facilities in Rwanda, including MRI, CT scans, chemotherapy, surgeries, and other cancer therapies.
The nuclear medicine services will be available at the Military Hospital in Kanombe. Additionally, once the King Faisal Hospital completes its expansion from 167 beds to 600, it will also be equipped with PET Scan machines.
The Chief Medical Officer at King Faisal Hospital recently told IGIHE that as part of their facility expansion, they plan to acquire two PET scan machines.
'This is a key component of the hospital's growth. PET scans are essential for tracking and diagnosing cancer. We have met all legal requirements,' he explained.
This development is expected to reduce the need for patients to seek treatment abroad, as Rwanda will have the capability to detect diseases at the cellular level, enabling early intervention and bolstering the country's ability to treat cancer.
IGIHE
