Qatar-based Al Amal Hospital, one of the leading cancer centers in the Middle East has acquired two advanced radiotherapy devices from Varian Medical Systems equipped with RapidArc technology for fast and precise treatments.

Al Amal Hospital, Doha is replacing four-year-old linear accelerators from another manufacturer with Trilogy and Clinac iX devices, in order to provide patients with more modern and efficient treatments, said a hospital official.

The new equipment to be installed in May will enable the hospital staff to begin treatments using RapidArc, Varian’s latest technology for delivering image-guided intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) with greater precision and up to eight times faster than is possible with conventional IMRT.

Dr Noora Mohammed Al-Hammadi, head of the department of radiation oncology, said, "Evidence suggests that RapidArc will revolutionize the way IMRT is delivered and potentially improve patient outcomes."

"Faster treatment that more closely conform radiation doses to the size, shape and location of the tumor are always desirable in radiotherapy, for both machine throughput as well as patient outcomes. We are very excited about the potential of RapidArc," she added.

Michael Sandhu, head of Varian’s Oncology Systems business in the EMEA region, said, "This decision by one of the foremost radiotherapy departments in the Middle East shows that what’s most important for customers in this region is not just the latest, most up-to-date technology but also equipment performance and reliability, along with a strong service and support organization in the Gulf region."-TradeArabia News Service