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GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
DEPARTMENT OF ATOMIC ENERGY
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO - 1727
ANSWERED ON 29.07.2026
NATIONAL NUCLEAR MEDICINE EXPANSION PROGRAMME
1727. SHRI DHARAMBIR SINGH
Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:-
(a) whether the Government has undertaken any initiative to strengthen the availability of
nuclear medicine and radioisotope-based diagnostic and therapeutic facilities in
Government hospitals across the country and if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether any roadmap has been prepared for increasing domestic production and timely
supply of medical radioisotopes and if so, the details thereof;
(c) the steps taken to strengthen training and capacity-building of healthcare professionals
in nuclear medicine and if so, the details thereof; and
(d) whether any Government medical institution in the Bhiwani–Mahendragarh Lok Sabha
Constituency is proposed to be covered under the said initiative and if so, the details
thereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES & PENSIONS
AND PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE (DR. JITENDRA SINGH)
(a) Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), a Research & Development (R&D) unit of
Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) is contributing in the field of nuclear medicine
through its clinical patient services units at Radiation Medicine Centre (RMC), Mumbai
and Radiation Medicine Research Centre (RMRC), Kolkata for diagnostic and
therapeutic services for cancer treatment.
At Variable Energy Cyclotron Centre (VECC), a R&D Unit of DAE, the 30 MeV
medical cyclotron is operated for commercial production of radioisotopes/
radiopharmaceuticals for cancer diagnostics. The radioisotopes / radiopharmaceuticals,
produced at the Medical Cyclotron Facility of VECC, are being delivered on regular
basis to various hospitals/ Nuclear Medicine Centres.
Tata Memorial Centre (TMC), an Aided Institute under the administrative control of the
DAE has established following diagnostic and therapeutic services by utilizing nuclear
techniques in the fight against cancer:1. Gamma Camera and its associated radiopharmacy lab:
This Unit is equipped to perform multiple types of functional imaging helping
with cancer staging with scans such as 99mTc PSMA (Prostate-specific
Membrane Antigen) etc. other imaging services help with assessing the function
such as Multigated Acquisition (MUGA) imaging to assess cardiac function etc.
2. Positron Emission Tomography-Computed Tomography (PETCT) and its
radiopharmacy lab:
This Unit primarily works for cancer staging, most commonly used radioactive
pharmaceutical is 18F FDG (Fluorodeoxyglucose) which is used in majority of
cancers for staging such as for evaluation of carcinoma lung, carcinoma
oesophagus, breast cancer, lymphoma, etc.
Radioactive Pharmaceuticals such as Ga68 DOTANOC, Ga68 FAPI - Fibroblast
Activation Protein Inhibitor (all prepared and quality checked in house) are
utilized for evaluation of various cancers [such as prostate cancer,
Neuroendocrine Tumors, Mucinous and Signet Gastro intestinal (GI) cancers etc.]
3. High dose Radionuclide therapy ward and its radiopharmacy lab:
6 bedded high dose therapy ward has been designed as per Atomic Energy
Regulatory Board (AERB) guidelines with appropriate layout and provision of a
delay tank to contain radioactive sewage for proper disposal of contaminated
patient sewage.
Iodine-131 (I-131) is utilized for treatment of thyroid cancer, Lutetium-177 (Lu-
177) PSMA and Lu-177 DOTANOC for management of prostate cancer,
neuroendocrine cancer and other Somatostatin Receptor (SSTR) expressing
malignancies.
TMC also works on project conception, development of product for known
medical and healthcare uses. After development by the laboratory, testing and
solutions for errors and noncompliance are addressed till the first version is built.
It is put to field use and tested and subsequent versions are developed.
Example:
• Development of medical devices like 90Y Bhabhspheres for Trans arterial
radio embolization: conceived, developed and tested and upgraded by
Bhabha Atomic Research Centre/Board of Radiation & Isotope
Technology (BARC/BRIT) & TMC.
• Development of Blood Irradiator.• Development of Bhabhatron.
• Development of Radio protectors by BARC, and testing and Drugs
Controller General of India (DCGI) approval done by TMC.
(b) Currently radioisotopes are produced through research reactors and cyclotrons.
Radioisotopes like Ruthenium-106, Caesium-137, and Strontium-90 milked into
Yttrium-90 are recovered through reprocessing of High-Level Liquid Waste (HLLW).
A dedicated Isotope Production Reactor (IPR) is being constructed for enhancing
domestic production of medical isotopes. The reactor is proposed to be established at
BARC, Visakhapatnam. Operationalisation of IPR can make India self-reliant in the
field of radioisotopes. BARC also regularly produces radioisotopes and
radiopharmaceuticals and supplies them through BRIT to nuclear medicine centres
across India, thereby supporting timely availability for diagnostic and therapeutic
applications.
(c) DAE is strengthening capacity-building in nuclear medicine through specialised
training programmes. BARC conducts programmes such as Doctor of Medicine in
Nuclear Medicine, Master of Science in Nuclear Medicine & Molecular Imaging
Technology (NM&MIT), Master of Science in Nuclear Medicine Technology &
Hospital Radio-Pharmacy (NMT&HRP), and Diploma in Radiological Physics
(DipRP). Doctors and technologists trained through these courses are employed in
nuclear medicine centres in India. These initiatives support the availability of trained
manpower for the growing use of radioisotopes and radiopharmaceuticals in nuclear
medicine and cancer care.
TMC has been conducting the following courses to strengthen training and capacity
building in the field of Nuclear Medicine
Doctor of Medicine (MD) Nuclear Medicine – 3 year course
Nuclear Theranotics – 2 years fellowship
Masters in Science (M.Sc) – Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging Technology
(NMMIT) – 2 years
(d) At present no such proposal is received in the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE).
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