Speech by Gauteng Health MEC Brian Hlongwa at the Commissioning of New PET-CT Scanner

Date : 17 April 2008

Programme director, valued staff members and health professionals, Ladies and Gentlemen:

Today is a very special day as we make history in this beautiful province of ours. It is a momentous occasion indeed because we are commissioning the very first of the three Positron Emission Tomography -Computed Tomography (PET-CT) scanners to be located in Gauteng.

While we are improving District Health Services with a special focus on Primary Health Care, we are equally sensitive to teaching, training, and research needs; and also to maintenance of international standards at our Academic Hospitals

The PET-CT scanner is not only the newest and one of the most powerful tools used in diagnostic imaging, it will also make a significant contribution to the provision of quality health services to the people of Gauteng, and those neighbouring provinces which are served by our tertiary hospitals.

It is important to note that this PET-CT scanner is the second in a public hospital after the one at Inkosi Albert Luthuli Hospital (KwaZulu Natal) in South Africa, but it is the latest advanced technology in the country amongst both public and private hospitals.

The machine is used primarily to detect cancer, plan treatment and examine the effects of cancer therapy. It is also used to assess the extent of heart diseases and neurological conditions.

It remains a sad reality that cancer is one of the leading deadly diseases among our people.

According to Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) between 1993 and 1995, an average of 3387 new cases of cancer of the cervix was reported.

By contrast, 1,497 deaths from cancer of the cervix were reported for 1994, also by Stats SA. The crude incidence rate was 17 to100 000.

Cancer of the cervix is the most common cancer in women accounting to 1 in 41. Important population differences exist. In black females the figure was 1 in 34, whereas in whites it was 1 in 93, about a threefold difference. In coloured females the rate was 1 in 50.

There appears to be a reduction in the incidence of cancer of the cervix in females from 1:30 in 1992 to 1:40 in the subsequent three years. The relative frequency of this condition has however also dropped from 17.9% of all cancers to 16.7% and the relative risk between black and white from 3.3% to 2.7%.

An early detection of cancer increases the chances for successful treatment.

The components that lead to an early detection of cancer are about educating the community to promote early diagnosis and screening.

Specialists in the field have explained to me the benefits to patients and health professionals that will accrue from using PET-CT scanner. These are among others:

  • Provision of a very accessible and comfortable, patient friendly imaging device.
  • Combining the superior anatomical imaging of CT with the excellent. biochemical functioning capturing of PET to provide superior lesion and tumour localisation from near perfect.
  • Helping to avoid unnecessary procedures such as invasive surgery to see if a tumour exists.
  • Giving a more accurate picture of the internal workings of the human body.
  • Detecting tumours as small as 4mm in total length.
  • Assisting surgeons in planning a form of treatment or route to the target tumour, because it offers a more complete picture as there is more detail as well as both functional and anatomical information on the same image
  • Helping to detect cancer earlier, even before symptoms arise.
  • Providing excellent patient monitoring options, both in seeing if all cancer has been removed or if cancer has recurred.
  • Helping surgeons decide if surgery is a necessary option.
  • Determining if someone is at risk of coronary illness, before symptoms occur.
  • It is also beneficial in helping diagnose mental illnesses earlier, helping treat the problem before it develops.
  • Helping to determine earlier if a cancer treatment is working or not.

In addition, its files can be imported into radiation therapy planning computers, aiding surgery.

At another level, the scanner will improve standards of care in line with International Cancer Accreditation Standards.

We hope it will improve the recruitment and retention of staff; and will create partnership to provide cancer imaging services for other healthcare organisations (private & public) in SADC and beyond. This is something to be celebrated.

Although the scanner is based here in Tshwane, it will be used by Dr George Mukhari Hospital, Kalafong Hospital, and other surrounding hospitals north of Jukskei River. The regions that are on the South of Jukskei River will be serviced by scanners at JHB and Chris Hani Baragwanath hospital.

The PET-CT scanner will potentially save thousands of rands from hospital admissions including high care, unnecessary investigations, theatre costs, ineffective chemotherapy and surgical costs.

Here is something to be proud of, and let us use these resources wisely to help our people enjoy better life.

I thank you

[ See PET-CT Scanner ]