Taro Kawano, MD of Fujifilm South Africa.

Namibia has implemented the Fujifilm Synapse RIS/PACS system in its healthcare facilities, connecting five state hospitals, allowing for the remote diagnosis of patient data.

The system was rolled out through a partnership between Fujifilm South Africa and medical distributor Uni Medical Supplies, aiming to improve general healthcare in Namibia.

The Fujifilm Synapse RIS (Radiology Information System) and PACS (Picture Archiving and Communication System) platforms were rolled out this week and are serving Windhoek Central Hospital, Katutura State Hospital, Oshakati State Hospital, Rundu Intermediate Hospital and Onandjokwe State Hospital.

The Fujifilm’s Synapse RIS/PACS system ensures the efficient management of information related to radiological examinations across hospitals, and the RIS platform helps with the scheduling and reporting of radiology appointments.

Imagery acquired from there – whether CT scans or x-rays – is then digitally stored on the PACS system, from where doctors can view the images and diagnose the patient.

Fujifilm says this allows for the ability to remotely diagnose patients from outlying areas. “Through the Fujifilm Synapse RIS/PACS system, all the data and imagery doctors need can be viewed digitally almost immediately, meaning a doctor located in Windhoek can diagnose a patient from Rundu without having to travel there. This shortens the timeframe for treatment, also addressing the availability of healthcare for remote patients.”

Furthermore, the company says four out of five of the hospitals are now equipped with its REiLI artificial intelligence (AI) platform, which offers breast and chest abnormality detection.

“Using AI, REiLI examines patients’ radiological imagery (2D/3D scans or x-rays) to flag abnormalities for radiologists to inspect further,” says Fujifilm.

Fujifilm’s Synapse RIS and PACS platforms have been successfully implemented in numerous hospitals across the globe, including Japan, the US, India and SA.

Taro Kawano, MD of Fujifilm South Africa, commented: “I truly believe our Synapse RIS/PACS platform will help improve the overall health and well-being of the Namibian citizens. We thank the Namibian Ministry of Health and Social Services for seeing the value of this platform and the benefits it holds for the country’s healthcare system.”