IAEA, Six Industry Partners Unite for Cancer Care

Addressing the growing burden of cancer and global disparities in cancer diagnosis and treatment requires innovative, multi-sectoral solutions that go beyond traditional partnerships. On the margins of the 70th IAEA General Conference , the IAEA signed agreements with six private sector partners to advance comprehensive access to radiation medicine and help bridge the global gap in cancer care.

During an IAEA side event on "Strengthening Cancer Care Globally Through Action: Experiences from the Rays of Hope Anchor Centres" IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi signed practical arrangements under the Rays of Hope initiative with Siemens Healthineers, Elekta, GE HealthCare, RaySearch, Vertual and AMEX Healthcare. By leveraging private industry innovation and cutting-edge technology together with the IAEA's expertise in radiation medicine, safety standards and global reach, the IAEA is scaling sustainable access to diagnostic imaging, nuclear medicine and radiotherapy in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

"These agreements confirm one of the most vital aspects of our mission: partnership. The IAEA has a long tradition of working alongside the private sector, without whom the Rays of Hope initiative would not succeed," Grossi said during the signing ceremony. "We are enormously grateful for the essential equipment, access to training applications and hands-on support these companies provide. And it is crucial to recognize the indispensable role private industry plays in the health sector-delivering the lifesaving care and solutions that countries so urgently need and deserve."

The practical arrangements build on an expanding collaboration between the IAEA and industry partners to strengthen cancer diagnosis, treatment capacity and quality assurance in LMICs. Siemens Healthineers, Elekta and GE HealthCare have already provided tangible support by providing equipment, applications training and access to learning resources, helping the IAEA advance the objectives of the Rays of Hope initiative and support the development of sustainable radiation medicine services.

In 2025, Varian, a Siemens Healthineers company, donated the IAEA a linear accelerator that will be installed at the Black Lion Hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to expand the country's capacity to provide radiotherapy treatment to cancer patients.

Support to Anchor Centres is a key element of the IAEA's partnership with the private sector under the Rays of Hope initiative. Elekta has supported capacity building in radiotherapy by donating treatment planning workstations to a Rays of Hope Anchor Centre in Morocco and devices to the IAEA Dosimetry Laboratory in Seibersdorf, Austria. This support contributes to training and research activities aimed at improving access to safe, effective and high-quality radiotherapy, primarily in underserved settings.

GE HealthCare has supported the training of medical professionals from 11 countries through a fellowship programme and provided radiologists and nuclear medicine physicians from Rays of Hope Anchor Centres with access to learning platforms on mammography and nuclear medicine.

RaySearch, Vertual and AMEX Healthcare are among the new private-sector partners joining the IAEA's efforts to tackle cancer care challenges under the Rays of Hope initiative. Their engagement will further strengthen support for Rays of Hope Anchor Centres and IAEA Member States. By contributing expertise, tools, software and training opportunities, these partners will help expand access to safe, high-quality cancer diagnosis and treatment.

As a successful example of South-South cooperation, Rays of Hope Anchor Centres are regional hubs of excellence that support developing countries in their respective regions to build, sustain and scale radiation medicine capacity for generations to come. By equipping them with advanced technology, specialized software and continuous training resources, the IAEA and its industry partners are turning commitments and investments into tangible health outcomes.

"These practical arrangements support the IAEA's Rays of Hope mission and advance the use of radiation medicine for cancer care," said May Abdel-Wahab, Director of the IAEA Division of Human Health. "Through these agreements, we are leveraging the capabilities of our private sector partners to increase access to diagnostic imaging and radiotherapy, advance research and development, strengthen quality assurance, and build long-lasting capacity through software support and applications training for the next generation of healthcare professionals."