Nuclear medicine, which uses small, safe doses of radioactive substances to diagnose and treat diseases, is gaining global traction. Now Rwanda is joining this movement, recognizing its potential to both improve public health and support sustainable development.
In 2023, Rwanda reported a cancer incidence rate of 113.9 cases per 100,000 people, signaling the urgent need for advanced diagnostic and treatment approaches.
Unlike conventional imaging techniques that provide structural images, nuclear medicine offers functional insights into the activity of organs and tissues, enabling early detection and precise treatment of complex diseases like cancer. This can be lifesaving in conditions where timing is critical.
Nuclear medicine also contributes to combating infectious diseases. During global health crises such as Ebola or Zika outbreaks, nuclear-based solutions have allowed for rapid disease detection and response. Given Rwanda’s focus on strengthening healthcare resilience, integrating these solutions could enhance the country’s ability to tackle future pandemics, saving both lives and livelihoods.
The use of radiopharmaceuticals for diagnosis and therapy helps detect cancer at an early stage, giving patients a better chance of successful treatment. In radiotherapy, targeted radiation destroys malignant cells while minimizing damage to healthy tissue.
Rwanda’s efforts in this field are already yielding results. The country’s first radiation therapy center was opened at the Rwanda Military Hospital in 2019, having treated over 500 patients since then. Despite this progress, Rwanda still lacks advanced nuclear imaging equipment. The entire country has just five CT scanners, two MRI machines, and two external beam radiotherapy units.
At the heart of Rwanda’s nuclear medicine ambitions is the Nuclear Science and Technology Center (NSTC). A cooperation agreement, which was signed with Rosatom at the 2019 Russia-Africa Summit, set the project in motion.
Such centers drive long-term growth across multiple sectors, including medicine and agriculture. Equipped with a research reactor, the NSTC will enable Rwanda to locally produce isotopes for medical, industrial and agricultural applications instead of importing them. Local production of isotopes will both secure the supply chain for related medicines and position Rwanda as a regional leader in nuclear medicine. Additionally, the NSTC will allow for the sterilization of medical instruments and irradiation of foods to extend their shelf life, further strengthening public health and food security.
Rosatom has already demonstrated success with a similar project in Bolivia, having built a center for nuclear research and technology at an altitude of 4,000 meters. One of its key units is a preclinical cyclotron facility for the production of radiopharmaceuticals. At full capacity, the facility can produce over 40 radiopharmaceuticals containing 11 different isotopes, providing enough medication for approximately 5,000 patients annually. The first two phases of construction were completed in 2023 when the cyclotron facility and a multipurpose irradiation center for agricultural and food products to improve safety and extend shelf life were put into operation.
Building such an ecosystem requires investment—not only in infrastructure and equipment, but also in human capital. Training healthcare professionals in radiopharmacology, radiation safety, and nuclear imaging will be essential to ensure high-quality care and make the most of this technology.
Rwanda’s progress in nuclear medicine depends on global partnerships and knowledge sharing. Collaboration with the IAEA and research centers worldwide opens access to expertise, training, and safety protocols essential for responsible and effective adoption of new technologies.
“Developing nuclear medicine in Central Africa holds great promise, but unlocking its full potential will require significant investment in infrastructure, workforce training, and international cooperation.
Partnerships with countries like Russia play a crucial role in advancing nuclear medicine across the region,” says Alexey Trukhin, Ph.D., Associate Professor at the Department of Medical Physics, MEPhI Institute for Physics and Engineering in Biomedicine, and a medical physicist at the Radionuclide Therapy Unit of the National Medical Research Center for Endocrinology under the Russian Ministry of Health.
Photo by: Rosatom State Corporation, Vladimir Smirnov, Wikipedia
