The Ministry of Health, on June 20, announced that it received a consignment of medical imaging equipment purchased by the government of Rwanda through a new strategic partnership with Siemens Healthineers, a German company that provides healthcare services including medical technology. The batch includes computerised tomography scanners (CT scanners), fixed X-rays and mobile X-rays machines; and mammography machines used to examine the breast for the early detection of cancer and other breast diseases; as well as medical echographs (ultrasound machines), among others. A CT scan consists of a medical imaging technique used in radiology to allow doctors to get detailed images of parts inside the body for diagnostic purposes. According to the Ministry of Health, the diagnostic equipment allows doctors to look inside the human body and be able to accurately identify diseases to be able to treat them, and address the gap in diagnostics. This marks an important milestone in the national effort to provide enhanced healthcare services through increased access to state-of-the-art medical diagnostic systems, the ministry said in a statement, referring to the development. The Government of #Rwanda acquires major medical imaging equipment. #RwandaWorks Press Release pic.twitter.com/hWIfAeSXOs — Ministry of Health | Rwanda (@RwandaHealth) June 20, 2024 “This partnership is part of an ongoing reform by the Ministry of Health to strategically acquire and equip public health facilities with cutting-edge diagnostic equipment, and ensure optimal care for Rwandans at a decentralised level,” the statement reads in part. The Ministry of Health also plans to strengthen medical technology services in hospitals across Rwanda. This first batch of equipment will be followed by more acquisitions to revolutionise medical imaging capabilities and provide Rwandan healthcare professionals with advanced tools for accurate and timely diagnosis, it added. ALSO READ: Health sector reforms to boost retention of medical personnel The Minister of Health, Dr Sabin Nsanzimana, said: “We have received a lot of medical equipment. It is the first time we have acquired such a number of medical devices.” He said they are very many pieces of equipment, and some will be provided to university teaching hospitals and are going to revolutionise how doctors were providing health care. The new equipment, he said, will help doctors to accurately diagnose conditions patients suffer from for effective treatment. They will be supplied to the University Teaching Hospital of Kigali (CHUK), others to the University Teaching Hospital of Butare (CHUB), King Faisal Hospital, Rwanda Military Hospital, district hospitals, and small health facilities (such health centres) countrywide. Julien Niyingabira, the Division Manager of Rwanda Health Communication Centre, described the consignment as “huge with many pieces of equipment.” He did not mention the number of the devices, nor the money spent on their acquisition but noted that CT scanners will be distributed in different hospitals including referrals such King Faisal Hospital, university teaching hospitals (CHUK and CHUB), Rwanda Military Hospital, and district hospitals. Niyingabira said the CT scanners are equipped with an updated technology. ALSO READ: CHUK in urgent need of new CT scan, says health ministry On May 21, during an ordinary general assembly of the Rwanda Private Medical Facilities Association (RPMFA) held in Kigali, Nsanzimana said that Rwanda had started a strategic acquisition of medical equipment that could reduce by half the expenses on equipment. The new model, Nsanzimana indicated, consists of bulk purchasing medical equipment directly from manufacturers, to address the previous situation where a high cost was incurred on the procurement of medical equipment; an issue stemming from the fact that there were many people involved in the supply chain as intermediaries.
