Kosovo upgrades nuclear medicine with advanced imaging tech

The SPECT&PET-CT and SPECT-CT services are two types of equipment that are considered the main transformation that has improved the quality of services in the Nuclear Medicine Service and has also reduced the cost of treating patients, mainly those with malignant diseases, CE Report quotes Kosova Press.

These new services are offered with equipment that the health systems in the region do not possess.

This is stated by the director of the Nuclear Medicine Service, Fakir Spahiu, who, in an interview with KosovaPress, considers that 2024 was the best year for the nuclear service since its establishment. He mentions that the donation from Saudi Arabia, facilitated by the “Jahjaga” Foundation for SPECT&PET-CT, as well as the purchase of the SPECT-CT, has created the possibility for faster diagnosis of cancerous diseases.

Spahiu noted that since June of the previous year, when the service began offering this technology to Kosovar patients, until the end of December, 210 SPECT&PET-CT services have been performed.

The director of the Clinical Nuclear Medicine Service, Fakir Spahiu, says that the introduction of the two new devices has significantly reduced family expenses. He also points out that last year, the department was also renovated.

“The cost of a PET-CT scan ranges from 1300 to 800 euros, with an average of around 1000 euros. In this case, if we have performed 210 PET-CTs, we have saved these families’ budgets by 210 thousand euros in total. This is a significant achievement, and I can freely say that we have eased the lives and expedited the diagnosis for those patients who need a PET-CT,” he emphasized.

In addition to PET-CT and SPECT-CT scans, Bone Densitometry (DEXA) has been offered in Nuclear Medicine since 2020.

During 2024, approximately 5,000 such services were performed, which are necessary for patients with Osteoporosis (bone mass loss).

“2024 has been the best year for Nuclear Medicine, as we have two high-tech devices, recently produced in 2024, and all necessary training for PET-CT and SPECT-CT has been completed. We are ready to offer all nuclear medicine services,” Spahiu said.

Spahiu also highlighted that offering new services has increased the demand for specialists, and he mentioned that they have received support from the Ministry of Health.