Cameroon's minister of public health, Manaouda Malachie, said nuclear medicine will soon be available in Douala, and that Cameroon will be one of the African countries where medical tourism takes effect. The minister presented the plan as a step up in the country's medical equipment, without saying when the service would start, what it would cost, or which Douala facilities would host it.
Nuclear medicine uses small amounts of radioactive substances, called radiopharmaceuticals, which are injected, swallowed or inhaled. Specialised cameras and PET scanners then show how organs are working, helping doctors detect abnormalities that standard examinations can miss. The specialty is used in the treatment of some cancers, thyroid disease, and some heart, bone and neurological conditions, and in some cases targeted radioactive treatment can destroy cancer cells. It is not suitable for every patient; use depends on the diagnosis and on specialist advice.
The announcement comes as hospitals in Douala and Yaounde, and regional hospitals, hold equipment the minister has cited in the past. Manaouda has said a pregnant woman can receive care from pregnancy monitoring through delivery for 6,000 XAF, and has shown cancer treatment machines at a regional hospital in Garoua.
No regulatory or safety framework for nuclear medicine was announced alongside the plan.