The installation of a new R72 million digital PET/CT scanner at the National Hospital was welcomed by Free State Chief Health Officer Ernest Mahlahlo.
However, he warned that aging medical equipment remains a major problem across the province. Speaking at the official launch on Thursday (26/02), Mahlahlo said the state-of-the-art scanner marks a significant milestone for healthcare in the Free State, particularly in the area of cancer diagnosis and management. However, he revealed that more than 82% of the imaging equipment in the province is over ten years old. “After 10 years, we don’t even have a maintenance plan anymore,” Mahlahlo said, adding that in the future the department will have to explore sustainable ways to finance and maintain critical equipment.
The fully digital Positron Emission Tomography-Computed Tomography (PET/CT) scanner, which was installed in August last year, has already been used to scan more than 300 patients. It is one of only three fully digital PET/CT machines currently operational in South Africa, underscoring its importance to the province and surrounding regions.
The advanced technology combines metabolic and anatomical imaging, allowing earlier and more accurate detection of diseases compared to conventional methods. This has a particular impact in oncology, where accurate staging determines the appropriate treatment. Clinical head of nuclear medicine at Universitas University Hospital Gerrit Engelbrecht said the digital platform improves both speed and accuracy. “It allows more patients to be scanned in a shorter period of time, uses less radioactivity and improves diagnostic accuracy,” he said.
Nuclear medicine specialist Osayande Evbuomwan noted that in nearly 30% of oncology cases, PET/CT findings can alter patient management, informing decisions about surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy or combined treatments. In addition to cancer care, the scanner also improves the diagnosis of neurological, cardiovascular and certain infectious or inflammatory conditions.
Mahlahlo further emphasized the academic value of the investment, saying the department can now train nuclear medicine registrars and radiographers locally. While the new scanner represents major progress, he stressed that broader equipment upgrades and sustainable maintenance plans remain essential to strengthening healthcare in the Free State.
Clement Sailor
Clement Matroos
www.bloemfonteincourant.co.za