The Kingdom of Jordan recently opened its first advanced nuclear medicine diagnostic centre in a public hospital with IAEA support, significantly increasing access to diagnostic services for cancer and other non-communicable diseases.
Through the IAEA flagship Rays of Hope initiative, PET-CT equipment was provided to the Oncology, Radiation Therapy, and Nuclear Medicine Hospital at Al-Bashir under a cost-sharing arrangement with the Jordanian Government and the United States of America. The new equipment will significantly enhance diagnostic capabilities in the country, enabling early detection and improved cancer management and patient outcomes.
Al-Bashir is the only public hospital in Jordan with a nuclear medicine department, offering integrated services for cancer patients. However, until recently, over 500 patients a year were referred to private institutions if they required advanced diagnostic services. "The introduction of the PET-CT in Al-Bashir is an important step toward enhancing the healthcare system in Jordan, as it will reduce the need for patients to travel abroad for such advanced tests, saving time, effort and costs for patients and their families," said Jordanian Minister of Health Firas Al-Hawari at the inauguration ceremony for the new equipment in February.
Inauguration of new PET-CT equipment at Al-Bashir Hospital in Jordan in February 2025. (Photo: S. Taher / Al-Bashir Hospital Department of Nuclear Medicine)
PET-CT combines positron emission tomography (PET) and computed tomography (CT) imaging to offer precise, three-dimensional images of body organs and tissues. Patients are given a small amount of radioactive glucose, and the scanner takes pictures of where the glucose appears brighter. These are areas where cells take up more glucose than usual, which can indicate cancer growths or infections.
"This advanced imaging technology is vital for accurately diagnosing cancer, determining its stage and assessing how the body responds to treatment. It also plays a crucial role in detecting heart and neurological diseases," said IAEA Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Nuclear Sciences and Applications Najat Mokhtar. "PET-CT is widely used in oncology across developed countries, but access remains limited in many low- to middle-income nations," she added.
Jordan received support from the IAEA's technical cooperation and human health programmes for the procurement of the equipment. The IAEA also supported related training for medical professionals.
"This achievement reflects the strong partnership between the IAEA and Jordan and demonstrates our commitment to helping Member States improve their health services with nuclear technology," said IAEA Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Technical Cooperation Hua Liu at the inauguration event.
In 2022, in response to a growing need for cancer care driven by a rise in cases, the IAEA launched Rays of Hope to close gaps in access to medical imaging and radiotherapy services. To date, more than 90 countries have signed up to participate, and over €80 million has been raised in support of the initiative.
Jordan's King Hussein Cancer Centre was designated as one of the first Rays of Hope Anchor Centres in 2023. These institutions have a robust history of collaboration with the IAEA in research and training, which will support capacity building activities in their respective regions.
