Osakidetza has completed the installation of the gantry, the main robotic arm for its proton therapy unit, a crucial step towards offering highly specialized oncological treatments. This 90-ton equipment will enable millimeter-precision treatments for complex tumors in pediatric and adult patients.
The complex logistical operation took place in the new 8,000-square-meter building, adjacent to Onkologikoa and the Donostia University Hospital, where Osakidetza has invested 61.3 million euros. The gantry, measuring 10 meters in length and 10 meters in diameter, has been elevated into the treatment pit and will be permanently sealed with reinforced concrete.
The project's next phases include component assembly, technological integration, and physical and dosimetric testing. Osakidetza officials, including Koldo Berganzo, Director of Healthcare Assistance, highlighted it as a "decisive step" and a "new healthcare capacity for all of Euskadi."
Proton therapy is an advanced form of radiotherapy using protons to treat certain types of cancer. The system allows for precise dose delivery to the tumor while minimizing radiation to surrounding healthy tissues, which is particularly beneficial for pediatric patients and adults with tumors near critical structures. Osakidetza plans to begin treating its first patients in early 2028.
“"Today we take a decisive step. The installation of these two essential elements represents a milestone of enormous relevance for Osakidetza and for Basque society as a whole. We are not just talking about incorporating high-tech equipment: we are talking about a new healthcare capacity for all of Euskadi."
There are approximately 140 proton therapy machines of this type worldwide, and Osakidetza now has one. "Today's installation reinforces Osakidetza's commitment to bringing excellence, innovation, and knowledge closer to all Basque citizens. It is a public healthcare infrastructure at the service of Euskadi," concluded Berganzo.
