Pres. Ali unveils plans for radiation-free CT scan

President Dr Irfaan Ali on Tuesday revealed ambitious plans for Guyana to acquire technology that will enable CT scans without radiation. This is part of the digital transformation that is ongoing in the health sector.

The Head of State revealed that the government will be working with new technologies developed in Silicon Valley.
“We are already eyeing two such technologies…one of which deals with MRI and CT scans.

“CT scans as you know, you have to use CT scans very sparingly because of the exposure to radiation. Today, there is a new technology under development that does your CT scan without any radiation, so you can do it repeatedly,” President Ali said.

He further noted that this new CT scan machine is also expected to be “much cheaper than CT scans as we know it. These are the same players that moved us to digital x-rays.”

According to the Mayo Clinic, during a CT scan, persons are briefly exposed to a type of energy called ionizing radiation. The amount of radiation is greater than the amount from a plain X-ray because the CT scan gathers more-detailed information.

However, the low doses of radiation used in CT scans have not been shown to cause long-term harm. But for repeated scans, there may be a small increase in the lifetime risk of cancer. This can affect children more than adults.

Meanwhile, the digital transformation that is taking place in the health sector aims to eliminate dangerous information gaps and enable faster, more precise diagnosis. President Ali said the transformation will also reduce redundant testing and save lives through a smarter coordinated health system.

“This data led approach to healthcare will support public health planning. Powerful data analytics and analysis will identify public health trends early, allowing proactive interventions.”

President Ali said the aim with such development and technology is to allow local doctors and specialists to see their careers “blossoming into the international level by providing services right here in Guyana.”

Adding that with partners like Hess, Mount Sinai, Northwell, the Apollo Hospitals in India, the government is confident in the modernisation of the local health sector.