Aga Khan University Hospital Nairobi (AKUH) has unveiled an AI-enabled radiotherapy technology that delivers highly precise radiation therapy with speed and accuracy, significantly reducing treatment times and minimizing side effects for patients.
TrueBeam Radiotherapy System, a next-generation cancer treatment platform developed by Varian Medical Systems, is used to treat a wide range of cancers, including breast, prostate, cervical, head and neck, lung, liver, brain, spinal, pediatric tumors, and selected metastatic lesions requiring stereotactic approaches. As the most advanced radiotherapy technology of its kind currently available in Kenya, it enables clinicians to target tumors with sub-millimeter precision, sparing surrounding healthy tissue and enhancing patients’ comfort, safety, and overall quality of life.
“TrueBeam allows us to deliver radiation with an unprecedented level of precision,” said Dr. Angela Waweru, Section Head of Radiotherapy at AKUH. “By minimizing exposure to nearby organs, we can reduce side effects and support faster recovery for our patients.”
“This represents a significant advancement from the linear accelerator technology we have relied on for over a decade,” Dr. Waweru added. “It aligns our radiotherapy services with global best practices and allows us to deliver faster, safer, and more accurate cancer care.”
TrueBeam supports a comprehensive range of advanced radiotherapy techniques at AKUH, including Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy (VMAT), Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (SBRT), and Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS). VMAT can shorten conventional radiotherapy sessions to under 10 minutes, down from approximately 20 minutes, while maintaining high precision and treatment effectiveness.
Stereotactic treatments such as SBRT and SRS, while delivered in fewer sessions (typically one to five), require longer individual treatment times due to their extreme accuracy and intensive image-guidance requirements.
“For example, in lung cancer, our real time tumor tracking SBRT allows the high dose radiation to be delivered precisely to the tumor even as the patient breaths. Most conventional technologies would irradiate normal lung tissue when the tumor moves during breathing,” explained Mansoor Saleh, Chair of the Haemato-Oncology Department at AKUH.
The TrueBeam system integrates real-time imaging, motion management, and advanced radiation delivery into a single, versatile platform. The system also incorporates artificial intelligence–enabled tools that support critical steps such as scan analysis and treatment planning. These features improve efficiency and consistency while maintaining full specialist oversight to ensure every treatment plan remains individualized and clinically robust. TrueBeam works in conjunction with an advanced CT simulation system that accounts for natural body motion, such as breathing, ensuring radiation remains precisely aligned with the tumor throughout treatment.
TrueBeam technology remains rare across the African continent, with availability limited to a small number of centers in South Africa, Egypt, Kenya, and Nigeria. Its introduction at AKUH places the hospital among a select group of institutions in sub-Saharan Africa offering next-generation radiotherapy.
“As a leader in healthcare innovation, we are proud to bring this transformative technology to the region,” said Rashid Khalani, Chief Executive Officer of AKUH. “Patients can now access world-class cancer treatment locally, without the need to travel abroad, supported by our highly skilled and internationally trained clinical teams.”
AKUH has long been at the forefront of cancer diagnostics and treatment in the region. In 2018, the hospital became the first in East Africa to install a PET-CT scanner and cyclotron, laying the foundation for advanced molecular imaging and precision oncology. The introduction of TrueBeam further strengthens AKUH’s commitment to delivering comprehensive, state-of-the-art cancer care across the full continuum, from diagnosis to treatment and follow-up.
