Antigua and Barbuda is a step closer to providing advanced cancer treatment services locally as work on the long-awaited Cancer Centre Antigua enters its final stages.

The government confirmed that refurbishment of the facility is nearing completion, marking significant progress on a transformative healthcare project that is expected to greatly enhance the country’s ability to diagnose and treat cancer at home.

The project encountered delays after previous owners brought legal challenges following the acquisition of the property. While those matters have not been fully resolved, sufficient progress has been made to allow construction and refurbishment work to move forward.

The scope of the project also proved to be far more extensive than originally anticipated, requiring major upgrades to the building’s electrical systems, data infrastructure and specialized equipment areas. Additional delays were caused by the procurement of custom-built components, including specialized air-conditioning and chiller units needed for the facility’s Linear Accelerator (LINAC) bunker.

According to Cabinet, despite these challenges, major pieces of equipment have already been secured. A new Elekta Versa Linear Accelerator (LINAC) and an advanced Oncology CT Scanner equipped with laser precision integration technology have been purchased and are awaiting shipment to Antigua and Barbuda.

The equipment will be transported once the bunker is fully prepared to facilitate immediate installation and commissioning.

The Elekta Versa LINAC represents cutting-edge cancer treatment technology. In addition to conventional radiotherapy, the system can deliver Stereotactic Radiotherapy (SRT), a highly advanced treatment that administers concentrated doses of radiation with exceptional precision while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissue.

This technology has the potential to dramatically shorten treatment periods for many cancer patients, reducing courses of therapy that may traditionally take three weeks to less than one week in some cases.

Preparations are also underway to ensure the centre is fully staffed upon opening. Key clinical personnel, including a Radiation Oncologist, Radiation Physicist and Radiation Therapist, have already been identified and are being integrated into the programme.

The Cancer Centre Antigua is expected to begin providing treatment services in early Fall and is being hailed as a landmark investment in healthcare. Once operational, the facility will provide patients with access to world-class cancer care in Antigua and Barbuda, significantly reducing the need for costly overseas treatment and allowing more families to remain together during one of the most difficult periods of their lives.

The centre is expected to become a critical pillar of the nation’s healthcare system and a major advancement in improving health outcomes for citizens and residents across Antigua and Barbuda.