The scanner arrived in Dunedin for a public opening day yesterday and is expected to be in regular service at Wakari Hospital from December or January.
HNZ southern general manager for surgical services and radiology Stephen Jenkin said having the scanner in Dunedin would be beneficial.
"It'll make a big difference for patients who currently have to travel to Christchurch or, in some cases, Auckland.
"It's a long way to go when patients are already quite seriously ill."
Most patients in the Southern district who require a Pet-CT scan were referred to Christchurch, which was home to the closest Pet-CT scanner for people in Otago and Southland.
"From next week, they will be referred to the mobile imaging unit in Dunedin instead."
Mercy Radiology molecular imaging and theranostics operations manager Jessica Fagan said travelling to Christchurch for scans could be taxing on patients and their families.
"It’s a nicer way of ensuring that people that are already undergoing a cancer diagnosis or are unwell get to be serviced where they lived."
