Dar es Salaam – A new Positron Emission Tomography-Computed Tomography (PET-CT) scanner, inaugurated at the Ocean Road Cancer Institute (ORCI), marks a significant leap forward in Tanzania’s battle against cancer.
The machine, one of the few in the region, allows for earlier and more accurate cancer detection, which is critical in a country where over 44,000 new cancer cases are diagnosed annually.
Previously, Tanzanians needing this advanced diagnostic imaging had to travel to India, at a cost of six to eight million shillings. The new facility at ORCI will provide the service for 1.2 million shillings, a dramatic reduction that makes it accessible to many more citizens.
Health Minister Mohammed Mchengerwa, speaking at the launch, emphasised the financial relief this brings to families and the nation, which is expected to save an estimated five billion shillings annually.
“The presence of this PET-CT scanner in our country will save a lot of money,” Mr Mchengerwa stated, urging the staff to maintain the equipment, which he described as a “symbol of development in the health sector.”
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A PET-CT scan is a powerful tool that combines two imaging techniques to provide a highly detailed view of the body’s internal structures and metabolic activity.
This allows doctors to detect cancerous cells at a very early stage, determine the exact size and location of tumours, see if the cancer has spread, and monitor the effectiveness of treatment with greater precision than other imaging methods.
Cancer poses a significant health challenge in Tanzania, with nearly 30,000 deaths recorded in 2022. The country has historically struggled with limited infrastructure for cancer care.
Until recently, ORCI and the Bugando Medical Centre were the only two public facilities offering comprehensive cancer treatment for a population of over 60 million. An international review in 2025 noted a shortage of specialised staff and equipment, with more than 70 per cent of patients presenting at late stages of the disease.
The new scanner is part of a broader government effort, under the vision of President Samia Suluhu Hassan, to strengthen the country’s healthcare capabilities. The project, which cost 18.2 billion shillings, also includes the construction of a cyclotron facility to produce the necessary nuclear medicine locally.
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ORCI’s Executive Director, Dr Diwani Msemo, thanked the government for its support and promised to continue advancing cancer care in the country. The institute’s efforts have already led to a steep decline in the number of patients sent abroad for treatment, from 164 in 2015 to just 14 in 2019.
While the new scanner is a major step, experts have been urging for continued investment in cancer control.
Recommendations from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) include developing more human resources in oncology, expanding population-wide screening programmes, and strengthening prevention efforts, such as the recently introduced HPV vaccination campaign.
The recent opening of a new cancer centre at the Aga Khan Hospital in Dar es Salaam further signals a growing, multi-faceted approach to tackling the disease nationwide.
