Nigeria is planning a major expansion of radiotherapy, with 35 additional linear accelerators expected to boost the country’s capacity to treat cancer. But buying the machines is only the beginning.

In this episode of Paul Talks Science, I speak with Runcie C.W. Chidebe, Executive Director of Project PINK BLUE, about what radiotherapy access really looks like for patients in Nigeria and what must happen for this new investment to make a difference.

We discuss why some radiotherapy machines and centres have previously stopped functioning, shortages of trained professionals, maintenance and service contracts, treatment costs that can run into millions of naira, long journeys to access care, limited insurance coverage, and the burden all of this places on patients and their families.

Runcie also explains why simply increasing the number of machines will not automatically increase access, and why workforce development, affordability, state-level investment and accountability will be crucial as the expansion moves forward.

This conversation followed my reporting for The Lancet Oncology on Nigeria’s planned radiotherapy expansion. You can read the published story here: ⁠Nigeria plans major expansion of radiotherapy capacity⁠

The big question: Nigeria may be getting more cancer-treatment machines, but will the patients who need them actually be able to use them?