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Since 2018, radiotherapy has enabled cancer patients in Rwanda to receive treatment closer to their homes. Previously, many had to travel to Uganda or Kenya for care. Now, the therapy is available at the Rwanda Cancer Centre (RCC) located at the Rwanda Military Referral and Teaching Hospital in Kanombe, assisting patients with various types of cancer. ALSO READ: Rwanda takes steps to make cancer treatment more affordable for its population. Dr. Theoneste Maniragaba, Director of the Cancer Programme at the Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC), stated to The New Times that globally, approximately 60 percent of cancer patients require radiotherapy at some stage during their treatment. “This may be as a primary treatment, combined with surgery or chemotherapy, or as part of palliative care to alleviate symptoms and enhance quality of life,” he explained. ALSO READ: How can Rwanda increase funding for cancer treatment? Reducing reliance on foreign referrals. Dr. Maniragaba mentioned that prior to 2018, patients were referred to neighboring countries, but the introduction of radiotherapy in Rwanda reduced dependence on foreign facilities and improved timely treatment for patients. Radiotherapy is a targeted treatment that focuses on cancer cells in specific parts of the body. It can shrink tumors before surgery, enhance the effectiveness of chemotherapy, and relieve symptoms like bleeding or pain caused by advanced cancers. According to Dr. Maniragaba, it is now used for the country’s most common cancers, including cervical, breast, prostate, liver, gastric, and colorectal cancers. The program was initiated through a collaboration between the Ministry of Health, Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC), Partners In Health (PIH), and international partners. As part of this initiative, Rwanda installed two linear accelerator machines (LINACs) — advanced equipment used to deliver targeted radiation therapy to cancer patients. The country also trained medical physicists, radiation oncologists, radiotherapists, and support staff to safely operate and maintain the technology, he added. Affordability and insurance coverage “Cost has long been a challenge for patients undergoing radiotherapy, with a session previously costing around Rwf 6,000, but following the cabinet approval of updated health service tariffs in January, the fee was revised to Rwf13,600. Under the community-based health insurance scheme (Mutuelle de Santé), which covers 90 to 95 percent of Rwandans, patients now pay only about 10 percent of the cost, roughly Rwf1,360 per session,” Dr. Maniragaba explained. “Previously, patients would pay between Rwf8,000 and Rwf9,000 per session, and a full course of 30 sessions could cost over Rwf270,000. That was unaffordable for many families. The new tariffs make treatment more accessible,” he added. Chemotherapy will soon be included in the national cancer benefit package, further reducing the financial burden on patients. Capacity and access challenges He noted that despite the progress, access to radiotherapy is still limited. Rwanda has only one treatment center in Kigali and two machines. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) recommends one radiotherapy machine for every one million people. With a population of about 13 million, Rwanda would need at least 13 machines. “Currently, we are far below the required capacity. One machine should serve around one million people. Having just two machines for the whole country is not enough,” Dr. Maniragaba noted. He added that the waiting period for treatment can stretch to three months. The aim is to reduce that to one month by adding more machines and staff. Each machine can treat about 80 patients per day under normal conditions, but with extended shifts, the number can rise to 120. “If we had the resources to work around the clock, one machine could handle up to 180 patients daily,” he added. Plans for expansion To address the shortage, the Ministry of Health has outlined a five-year plan to expand radiotherapy services. This includes setting up new treatment centers in Butaro in the north and another in the south, with plans to expand to the western and eastern provinces over time, noted. “For now, patients from across the country must travel to Kigali, which is a challenge. If we succeed in opening centers in the north and south, they will support those people, while Kigali will continue serving the central and eastern regions.” Rwanda also faces a shortage of specialized staff. Training more medical physicists, radiation oncologists, and technologists is part of the Ministry of Health’s 4×4 strategy to improve care. Cost of machines “Expanding radiotherapy capacity is expensive. A single linear accelerator machine costs around $2.5 million, or approximately Rwf 3.6 billion. These machines are very costly, and they require regular maintenance,” Dr. Maniragaba said.

Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).