Rwanda will begin manufacturing a crucial substance for nuclear therapy in 2026

Rwanda is scheduled to start producing radionuclides, a crucial substance for nuclear medicine, in the first quarter of 2026.

By monitoring physiological processes and cellular activity within the body, nuclear medicine—a specialized branch of medicine—uses trace amounts of radioactive elements, or radiotracers, to diagnose and treat illnesses.

It makes use of cutting-edge technology like the Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scan, which Rwanda Military Referral and Teaching Hospital (RMRTH) is anticipated to implement.

Rwanda has already purchased the equipment needed to produce the radionuclides, according to Remy Wilson Bana, the Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority’s (RURA) acting division manager for nuclear and radiation safety.

Up until today, Egypt or other parts of Europe were frequently the nearest sources for these vital medical supplies.

At least 100 high-tech employment for technical personnel in the nuclear and radiation industries are anticipated to be created by the local production.

In addition to creating jobs, the action lessens Rwanda’s dependency on imported medical isotopes from distant countries like Egypt and advances the country’s goal of becoming a regional medical center.

For many years, the exorbitant expense of traveling overseas for a PET scan has been a deterrent.

“This is a huge accomplishment economically because the majority of Rwandans have been traveling overseas, particularly to Europe or India, for diagnosis,” Bana said.

According to him, nuclear medicine is special because it operates at the “cellular level,” which enables medical professionals to identify the development of cancer cells at an extremely early stage.

“In fact, this will save the money that people have been spending on traveling overseas to receive diagnosis and treatment,” he continued.

To enable the investment, the government has teamed up with Aegle Onco Care, a medical service business with roots in India and Mauritius.

Major facilities, such as King Faisal Hospital and the RMRTH, will have nuclear medicine departments licensed and operating as a result of the project.

Bana stated, “We are probably going to license four nuclear medicine departments.”

He also alluded to Rwanda’s intentions to use nuclear energy to provide electricity.

According to Bana, “current efforts are underway to guarantee that we have nuclear energy production that will fit Rwanda’s electricity demand.”