Health CS Duale Hails Nairobi West Hospital as Model for Innovation in Cancer Treatment

Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale on Thursday evening officiated the launch of Nairobi West Hospital’s state-of-the-art Cyclotron 11 MeV machine during a high-profile gala dinner held under the theme “Illuminating the Future: Innovation, Impact and Inspiration.”

The newly commissioned cyclotron marks a major leap forward in the country’s battle against cancer, as it enables the local production of essential radioisotopes, critical for early diagnosis and precision cancer treatment.

This advancement is expected to significantly reduce delays in imaging services and save thousands of lives lost annually to late-stage diagnosis.

In his address, CS Duale hailed Nairobi West Hospital’s evolution from a small outpatient clinic in Tala, Machakos County in the 1970s to its current status as a Level 6 private referral facility, crediting the visionary leadership of founder and current board chair, Dr. Umesh Saini.

“As a country, we must accelerate innovation, foster collaboration, and embrace advanced technology to make Kenya a regional hub for medical excellence and health tourism,” said Duale. “What Nairobi West Hospital has achieved here is exemplary and should be replicated nationwide.”

CS Duale directed all national referral hospitals, the Social Health Authority (SHA), and the Digital Health Authority (DHA) to formalize partnerships with Centres of Excellence like Nairobi West Hospital to enhance integrated, patient-centered care and eliminate duplication of services.

He further urged private healthcare stakeholders to align with the Ministry’s Digital Health Superhighway initiative, which aims to improve health service delivery through better connectivity, data integration, and efficiency across the system.

The hospital was also lauded for its pioneering work in AI-enabled PET/CT scans, stem cell therapies, transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) procedures, and 21 successful bone marrow transplants to date.

The commissioning of the PET/CT scanner and the radioisotope production facility is expected to be a game-changer in the fight against cancer, which claims nearly 30,000 Kenyan lives each year.

The Health CS was accompanied at the event by Principal Secretary for Medical Services Dr. Ouma Oluga and Principal Secretary for Public Health Mary Muthoni.