University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC) has achieved a milestone by conducting its inaugural human scan using the Nanox Arc X-ray Tomography Scan machine.
This makes the hospital the second medical facility in Africa to employ this cutting-edge technology.
Developed by an Israeli company, the Nanox Arc exhibits the capability to generate high-quality medical images with unparalleled speed and precision, all at a more affordable cost compared to traditional CT scans.
Although operating similarly to regular X-rays, the Nanox Arc excels at detecting minute issues within the scanned body region that might escape conventional X-ray imaging.
The limitations of conventional X-rays often necessitate further, more expensive CT scans, which expose patients to higher levels of radiation.
To showcase the technology’s effectiveness, a patient-volunteer, Abraham Asare Bediako, underwent the Nanox Arc scan at a ceremony in Accra on Thursday, January 17, 2024.
During a concise event in Accra aimed at showcasing the functionality of the Nanox Arc X-ray Tomography Scan machine, Mr. Daniel Amankrah, a Radiologist Specialist at UGMC, explained that the Nanox Arc was employed to scan all areas of the body that contain bones, enabling a comprehensive assessment of the bone’s structure.
“It works like an X-ray, but this gives you more images to see into detail what is happening in the human body at a relatively low cost with less radiation
“When you do the regular X-ray, the information from it is not sufficient. So currently, doctors may require you to do a CT Scan to see what is actually going on in the human body,” he said.
While the Nanox Arc was installed at UGMC in 2023, its inaugural use awaited approval from the Food and Drugs Authority.
With the green light received, the technology is set to be available for patients starting next week, marking a significant advancement in medical imaging capabilities at the University of Ghana Medical Centre.
CT Scan is more expensive and exposes the patient to more radiation.