Qatar-based Al Amal Hospital said it has become the first healthcare institution to install GE Healthcare’s premium wide bore 1.5T Optima MR450w MRI system in its Radiation Oncology department.

Al Amal, part of Hamad Medical Corp, said the MRI system (with radiation oncology options to provide clinicians improvements for tumor targeting in brain, head/neck and pelvis therapy sites) was supplied by Mannai, the GE Healthcare representative in Qatar.

The system was integrated into the hospital’s oncology treatment program in early 2011.

To commemorate the event, a special ceremony was held at Al Amal Hospital on Sunday presided by the corporation’s managing director, Dr Hanan Al Kuwari.

Dr Noora Al Hammadi, director of the Radiation Oncology program, said, "We have always strived to ensure that the treatments offered to cancer patients in Qatar parallel those found in any prestigious cancer centre globally."

"To enhance our capabilities in oncology diagnosis, planning and treatment, we selected GE Healthcare’s Optima MR450w with its comprehensive Radiation Oncology Options," she noted. 

Designed to pinpoint radiation therapy with the precision of magnetic resonance, the GE Optima system was recently introduced at the American Society for Therapeutic Radiation and Oncology (Astro) 53rd annual meeting.

Dr Al Hammadi said, "We are proud to be the first site in the world to deploy the system at our hospital. The system offers a 70 cm bore for enhanced patient comfort and 50 cm field of view with uncompromised image quality over large anatomical regions."

"Magnetic Resonance has the ability to facilitate more precise radiation therapy treatment. To receive the full benefit of this investment, we plan to use the Optima MR450w as a regular diagnostic MRI, as well," she added.

Daoud Shinwari, zone sales manager (Gulf region) said GE Healthcare has been a long-standing partner with Qatar and the wider Middle East region in promoting an ‘earlier model’ of healthcare, where the focus is on identifying diseases early.

This complements our healthymagination initiative – GE’s global commitment to increase access, improve quality and efficiency, and lower costs of healthcare.

"As the first hospital to install our advanced MR Radiation Oncology options, on Optima 450w scanner, Qatar is underscoring its commitment to provide advanced technologies to its people and enhance healthcare standards," he noted.-TradeArabia News Service