RFH Healthcare has administered the first-ever Lutetium therapy treatment in East, Central, and Sub-Saharan Africa.
The therapy, which targets advanced neuroendocrine tumors and metastatic prostate cancer, had previously only been available outside the continent.
Its rollout in Nairobi marks a shift in treatment access for patients who have often faced high costs and logistical hurdles seeking care abroad.
Lutetium therapy is a targeted radionuclide treatment that delivers radiation directly to cancer cells while sparing surrounding healthy tissue. It is increasingly used globally as a less invasive and more precise option for late-stage cancers.
The treatment is now available at RFH Specialist Hospital in Ruai, Nairobi, following the launch of the hospital’s new Diagnostic and Cancer Treatment Center.
The facility includes high-end equipment such as SPECT-CT, PET-CT, and a Linear Accelerator (LINAC), tools essential for diagnostics and precision radiotherapy.
“Our commitment is to ensure that patients across Africa can access world-class treatment without having to leave the continent. With Lutetium therapy now available locally, we are not only saving lives, but also rewriting the future of cancer care in Africa,” said Dr. Maxwel Okoth, General Managing Director, RFH Healthcare.
RFH’s expansion into nuclear medicine comes amid growing concern over the continent’s cancer burden, with limited access to specialized care and equipment being a persistent challenge across many countries.
The Ruai facility is part of a broader network of 11 RFH branches across the country, but it now serves as the group’s flagship center for oncology.
The hospital says it plans to expand access and build capacity in nuclear medicine as demand grows.
Kenya joins a small number of African nations introducing advanced cancer treatments locally, with health experts calling for more investment in infrastructure and specialist training to address the continent’s rising cancer rates.
