Federal government invests in Siemens Healthineers scanner to ‘reduce wait times’ for cancer diagnosis

MedTech & Diagnostics News: The Albanese Government is investing $12 million through the 2024–25 Budget, to purchase and install a Siemens Healthineers’ Quadra Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography (PET/CT) Molecular Imaging scanner. The Victorian Government and The Alfred Foundation will match this funding.

The Quadra scanner increases the safety of patients and staff, by performing faster scans with a lower dose of radiation. It will support an additional 2,600 scans annually, more than doubling current capacity to 5,000 scans.

Prime Minister Albanese said “We are pleased to partner with the Victorian Government to deliver better cancer care for Victorians. This scanner will mean Victorians have access to a cutting-edge scanner which will support cancer research, diagnosis and treatment. This scanner will reduce wait times for Victorians who need a PET/CT scan and double the number of scans performed in Australia each year.”

In addition to being used to diagnose and treat cancers, the scanner will support critical medical research. The scanner will increase Australia’s capacity to run clinical trials in ‘theranostics’ which is an emerging field in oncology that integrates molecular imaging and therapy to provide personalised cancer treatment.

Federal Health Minister Mark Butler MP said “This scanner is faster, safer and can detect cancers earlier meaning many Victorians will receive an earlier diagnosis, which is so important in cancer care. Researchers will have the opportunity to use this scanner for clinical trials which could lead to potentially ground breaking discoveries.”

Expected to be operational by June 2025, this will be the only scanner of its kind in Australia that is used for research, and cancer treatment and diagnosis.

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