Middle East & Africa Radiotherapy Market Outlook, 2031

Market Drivers

• Rising cancer burden across the region: The primary driver of the Middle East and Africa radiotherapy market is the substantial and growing cancer burden. In the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region, non-communicable diseases, including cancer, account for nearly three out of every four deaths. More than 2.8 million people die annually from major non-communicable diseases in the region. In the WHO African Region, more than one million new cancer cases are diagnosed every year, with nearly one million people losing their lives annually. Cancer is now among the leading causes of premature mortality in Africa. In the GCC countries, approximately 31,700 cancer cases were recorded in 2023. This growing cancer burden drives sustained demand for radiotherapy equipment and services.
• Sustained government investment in advanced radiotherapy infrastructure: Governments across the Middle East are making substantial investments in advanced radiotherapy infrastructure. Saudi Arabia has launched the Saudi Proton Therapy Centre at King Fahad Medical City in Riyadh, the first cancer treatment centre in the Middle East using proton technique. The centre aims to treat approximately 1,700 patients annually. The UAE is developing the Middle East's first heavy-ion therapy facility at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi in partnership with Toshiba, with only 15 centres worldwide offering heavy-ion radiotherapy. YAS Healthcare has signed a contract to install a Proteus®ONE proton therapy system in Dubai, creating the GCC region's first operational proton therapy centre.
• International initiatives and partnerships expanding access: International organisations are playing a critical role in expanding radiotherapy access across the region. The IAEA's Rays of Hope initiative has procured and delivered essential equipment to multiple countries. Kenya has received two LINAC radiotherapy machines from the IAEA, now serving patients in Nakuru and Eldoret. The IAEA also provided a linear accelerator donated by Varian to be installed at the Black Lion Hospital in Ethiopia. Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Qatar, and South Africa have been designated as Rays of Hope Anchor Centres, serving as knowledge and capacity building hubs.

Market Challenges

• Severe infrastructure deficits and equipment shortages in Africa: A major challenge facing the African radiotherapy market is the severe shortage of equipment and infrastructure. In Africa, over 20 countries do not have a single radiotherapy machine, and more than 50% lack nuclear medicine departments. Nigeria, Africa's most populous nation with over 223 million people, has only 15 radiotherapy machines less than one functional machine per 29 million people with frequent breakdowns crippling service delivery. South Africa faces severe backlogs, with a backlog of nearly 3,000 cancer patients awaiting radiation oncology treatment in Gauteng province, and a shortage of staff to operate existing machines. Sudan's radiotherapy services have been almost entirely halted due to equipment breakdowns and conflict.
• Workforce shortages and training gaps: Staffing shortages remain a critical concern across the region, with many centres facing difficulties in recruiting and retaining qualified medical physicists, radiation oncologists, and radiation therapists. South Africa has staff shortages that prevent the operation of all available linear accelerators. Kenya's Kenyatta University Hospital conducted just 250 radiation therapy sessions against a target of 800, leaving 550 patients without treatment due to staff shortages. Nigeria faces severe shortages of trained personnel to operate existing equipment. The IAEA's Rays of Hope initiative is addressing this through training and capacity building, equipping Anchor Centres with virtual reality tools for gynaecological radiotherapy training.
• Regional disparities in equipment distribution and access: Equipment is heavily concentrated in a few countries, creating significant access disparities. North African countries including Algeria, Egypt, Morocco, and Tunisia have more radiotherapy machines, while many sub-Saharan African countries have none or very few. The IAEA has noted that entire regions in sub-Saharan Africa still operate with fewer than five functioning radiotherapy machines. This disparity leads to patients travelling long distances for treatment or forgoing care entirely.

Market Trends

• Expansion of proton and heavy-ion therapy centres in the Middle East: A major trend shaping the Middle Eastern radiotherapy market is the significant expansion of advanced particle therapy infrastructure. Saudi Arabia's Proton Therapy Centre at King Fahad Medical City is the first of its kind in the Middle East. The UAE is developing the region's first heavy-ion therapy facility and its first proton therapy centre in Dubai. Egypt is installing its first proton beam therapy facility at the Children Cancer Hospital Egypt (CCHE), expected to start treating patients. These investments reflect the growing clinical evidence supporting proton and heavy-ion therapy for specific indications, including paediatric cancers.
• Digital transformation and AI integration in radiotherapy: The adoption of artificial intelligence and digital technologies is accelerating across the region. Egypt has introduced an AI-powered integrated radiotherapy system in Upper Egypt, the first of its kind in the region. The IAEA has equipped its Rays of Hope Anchor Centres with virtual reality technology to enhance gynaecological radiotherapy training. Healthcare providers are increasingly investing in advanced treatment planning systems and AI-powered tools to improve efficiency and patient outcomes, particularly where workforce shortages are acute.
• Public-private partnerships and international collaboration: Public-private partnerships and international collaborations are expanding across the region. Alameda Healthcare Group in Egypt is installing a second TrueBeam linear accelerator system at Dar Al-Fouad Hospital. Netcare Cancer Care in South Africa is expanding access through public-private partnerships to address treatment backlogs. The IAEA's Rays of Hope Anchor Centre network includes institutions across the region, fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing.