By Steve El Sabai
In a monumental stride towards transforming diagnostic healthcare, The Nairobi Hospital has unveiled an advanced AI powered Siemens SOMATOM Drive 256 slice CT scanner. This state of the art equipment is poised to revolutionize medical imaging by delivering ultra fast, high precision scans, significantly bolstering the fight against the growing burden of non communicable diseases (NCDs) in Kenya.
As part of its inclusive healthcare strategy, the hospital is extending a 10% discount on all CT scans from June 15 to July 14, 2025, underscoring its commitment to making superior diagnostic services more accessible to the public.
Presiding over the historic launch, Health Cabinet Secretary Hon. Aden Duale EGH hailed the investment as a profound leap towards self sufficiency in healthcare, reducing the country’s dependence on outbound medical tourism.
“This is not merely a machine, it is a life saving intervention that will radically transform the landscape of diagnostics and treatment,” declared Duale. “It is a bold testament that cutting edge, world class healthcare can indeed be delivered within our borders, saving lives and enhancing early disease detection.”
Hon. Duale further reiterated the government’s unwavering dedication to the realization of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and advocated for strengthened public private synergies to support transformative national health reforms, including those spearheaded by the Social Health Authority (SHA) and the “Lipa SHA Pole Pole” framework aimed at alleviating the financial strain on Kenyan households.
“I call upon all healthcare institutions to harmonize efforts, innovate relentlessly, and erect systems that not only heal but restore dignity and safeguard livelihoods,” he urged.
The Siemens 256 slice CT scanner is outfitted with dual source technology and AI enhanced imaging capabilities, delivering faster, ultra high resolution scans with minimal radiation exposure and reduced dependency on contrast agents. This breakthrough is particularly advantageous in pediatric, oncological, orthopedic, and neurological imaging, enabling complex trauma scans and enhancing precision for patients with implants, all while minimizing the need for sedation in children.
Dr. Barclay Onyambu, Chairman of The Nairobi Hospital Board, emphasized that this milestone is emblematic of the hospital’s unwavering commitment to pioneering innovation, clinical excellence, and compassionate, patient centered care.
“This transcends a mere technological acquisition. It is a resolute reaffirmation of our mission to lead with distinction, delivering swift, lucid, and life affirming outcomes anchored in empathy and superior care,” said Dr. Onyambu.
He also underscored the hospital’s readiness to intensify collaborations with the Ministry of Health and the SHA to expand access to globally benchmarked healthcare within Kenya. Dr. Onyambu highlighted the hospital’s steadfast pursuit of Joint Commission International (JCI) accreditation and its continued investment in developing world class healthcare professionals through the Cecily McDonnell College of Health Sciences.
The Nairobi Hospital Chief Executive Officer, Felix Osano, lauded the scanner’s transformative capacity to expedite diagnostic processes, minimize patient wait times, and deliver unparalleled diagnostic precision.
“This innovation empowers us to act with alacrity, whether it’s a child in need of urgent answers, a trauma patient requiring immediate care, or an elderly individual seeking diagnostic clarity. For clinicians, it means faster decision making, for patients, it guarantees safer, swifter, and more effective care,” Osano remarked.
Osano further noted that the Siemens CT scanner seamlessly complements the hospital’s recent multimillion shilling investments in radiological advancements, including sophisticated MRI, mammography upgrades, 24 hour imaging reporting, and decentralized diagnostic services via the hospital’s outpatient network.
“At The Nairobi Hospital, we are architecting a future where no Kenyan should ever have to seek essential diagnostics abroad. Through this discount, we are actively dismantling financial barriers and democratizing access to life saving technologies,” Osano emphasized.
Renowned for its European Society for Quality Research recognition and ISO certifications in quality management, environmental stewardship, and laboratory competence, The Nairobi Hospital continues to set the gold standard for healthcare delivery on the continent. The commissioning of the Siemens CT scanner marks yet another definitive step in its relentless pursuit of clinical supremacy and patient centered excellence
