The state-of-the-art CyberKnife machine recently installed at the Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital (KUTRH)with a cost of Sh700,000,000 will offer precise and effective treatment options for a wide range of medical conditions, especially cancers.
Speaking to Health Business magazine, KUTRRH chairperson, Prof Olive Mugenda said the machine is the first to be installed in sub-Saharan Africa and is expected to minimise side effects and improve overall patient experience.
“Unlike traditional surgery, CyberKnife is a non-invasive treatment option which does not require incisions or anaesthesia which leads to quicker recovery times and fewer complications for patients…
“At the same time, it is precise, resulting in reduced side effects and improved outcomes,”.
CyberKnife treatment, Prof Mugenda added, is recommended for various conditions, including cancerous and non-cancerous tumours.
Its precise tumour treatment capacity to sub-millimetre accuracy levels makes treatment preferred using CyberKnife for several conditions such as prostate cancer, lung cancer, brain tumuors, spine tumours and liver cancer among others.
“It is also ideal in the treatment of non-cancerous conditions, including Trigeminal Neuralgia as well as treatment of Arteriovenous Malformations (AVMs), which are abnormal tangles of blood vessels, and Acoustic Neuromas, which are benign tumours on the acoustic nerve…
“These benign tumours are responsible for hearing and balance,”.
CyberKnife treatment is also applied for pancreatic lesions and also certain functional disorders, such as epilepsy, by targeting specific brain areas responsible for seizures.
It can also be used for stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) and stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT), which are highly focused and precise radiation therapy used for various conditions.
KUTRRH has urged oncologists to contact their medical team to discuss their patients’ eligibility so that they are booked accordingly.
The first patient to be treated with the CyberKnife was Benjamin Muhia for a benign tumuor near the cochlear on September 27 2023.
Prof Mugenda notes: “The fact that NHIF will cover the cost of treatment will be of great benefit to many Kenyans…
“We are also engaging other insurance companies to meet the cost of treatment which is between Sh300,000-Sh350,000 depending on the sessions. Similar treatments abroad cost more than Sh2 million,”;
Prof Mugenda added: “The acquisition of the machine and the commencement of the treatment supports the government’s efforts for universal healthcare as the treatment is available to all Kenyans from different socio-economic backgrounds,”
At the same time, it also supports UHC given that it is fully covered by NHIF, and patients with NHIF don’t have to add any money to access the treatment.
Experts say accessing CyberKnife treatment has been costly for many patients from Kenya and the region, given the machine was not available in Africa except in Egypt, which was also recently installed.
Prof Mugenda says KUTRRH plans to undertake an aggressive advertisement campaign on the availability of the CyberKnife in other Africa countries to enable patients seek treatment in Kenya.
“Previously, many Kenyans seeking cancer treatment were travelling abroad, but with the acquisition of the CyberKnife they will now be able to access treatment locally at a fraction of what they were previously paying abroad…
“Other patients from other African countries will also benefit from our services thereby increasing inboard medical tourism while reducing outward medical tourism,”.
“Already, we have more than 100 patients on our list who are seeking treatment following the installation of the CyberKnife and we plan to carry out 10 treatments daily…
“However, we shall gradually escalate the number that will be treated daily while we are also training more oncologists to enable them provide the necessary treatment,”.
The ultra-modern 650-bed Level 6 Hospital has also constructed a hospitality wing where patients and their relatives can be accommodated within the health facility.
The commencement of CyberKnife treatment services comes after an intense and much-awaited completion of the commissioning process after the launch of the CyberKnife Centre by President William Ruto last May.
The commissioning has been a tedious and delicate process jointly undertaken by medical physicists from Accuray, the equipment manufacturer, and KUTRRH medical physicists, doctors, radiotherapists and oncologists.
Added Prof Mugenda: “This process, which took five months after the launch by the President, included a dry run and the collection of very delicate data to ensure that the machine processes were accurate and ready to deliver precise and successful treatment to our patients…
“The commencement of the treatment also marks a key milestone for Kenya, the region and Africa in general. The services are now available without travelling outside the country for Kenyans or outside Africa for the regional patients.”
At the same time, Dr Tracy Irura (Radiation oncologist and the lead oncologist in CyberKnife) describes the launch of the CyberKnife System—as “the first and only fully robotic radiotherapy device for cancer treatment”.
“It is more precise and can be able to target small tumuors which are inoperable as it can move 6,000 angles during treatment which no other system can be able to achieve this,” Dr Irura noted.
Dr Irura added: “The CyberKnife has a precise tumour treatment capacity to sub-millimetre accuracy levels making it the preferred treatment for several conditions such as prostate cancer, lung cancer, brain tumuors, spine tumours and liver cancer among others,”.
CyberKnife treatment is also applied for pancreatic lesions and also certain functional disorders, such as epilepsy, by targeting specific brain areas responsible for seizures.
An experienced UK-based Radiation therapist, Ms Ruth Wambui has now been appointed as the new KUTRRH CyberKnife centre manager.
