**Summary:**
A parliamentary response from the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), issued on August 6, 2025, addresses the domestic production and availability of key medical radioisotopes. The Board of Radiation Isotope Technology (BRIT), a unit of the DAE, produces and distributes radiation isotopes for healthcare, agriculture, research, and industry.
Current domestic production levels are sufficient to meet national demand for Lutetium-177 (Lu-177), with BRIT fulfilling 85-90% of the country's demand (1000-1200 Curie). However, domestic production of Iodine-131 (I-131), Molybdenum-99 (Mo-99), and Fluorine-18 (F-18) is insufficient to meet national demand. While there is no demand-supply mismatch for Gallium-68 (Ga-68), there is an approximate 10-15% gap between the demand and supply of Lu-177 and Mo-99. The short half-life of F-18 (110 minutes) limits its distribution, with production from facilities in Parel and Cyclon 30 serving only nearby hospitals.
To address the shortfall in Mo-99 production, the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), another unit of DAE, has received in-principle approval for a Public-Private Partnership (PPP)-based isotope reactor project. The Detailed Project Report (DPR) is currently under review for administrative and financial sanction. Production is expected to commence around 2035 with a radioisotope production capacity of 0.5 million Curie.
The Tata Memorial Centre (TMC), a Grant-in-Aid institution under DAE, has expanded affordable nuclear medicine infrastructure in Tier-2 cities (New Chandigarh, Visakhapatnam, Bhubaneswar, Guwahati, Varanasi, Muzaffarpur, Bihar) and a Tier-3 city (Sangrur, Punjab).
The information was provided by Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Earth Sciences, MoS PMO, MoS Personnel, Public Grievances Pensions, Department of Atomic Energy and Department of Space, in a written reply in the Lok Sabha.
Key Entities Referenced
Department of Atomic Energy: The government department overseeing atomic energy initiatives, including the Board of Radiation and Isotope Technology and Bhabha Atomic Research Centre.
Board of Radiation Isotope Technology: A constituent unit of the Department of Atomic Energy that provides radiation isotope-based products and services.
Lutetium177: A medical radioisotope used in healthcare applications.
Iodine131: A medical radioisotope used in healthcare applications.
Molybdenum99: A medical radioisotope used as parent of Tc99m, used in healthcare applications.
Fluorine18: A medical radioisotope used in healthcare applications.
Bhabha Atomic Research Centre: A Research and Development unit under the Department of Atomic Energy.
Tata Memorial Centre: A Grant-in-Aid institution under Department of Atomic Energy which has expanded affordable nuclear medicine infrastructure in Tier2 and Tier 3 cities.
Department of Atomic Energy
PARLIAMENT QUESTION: SHORTAGE OF
MEDICAL RADIOISOTOPES
Posted On: 06 AUG 2025 4:38PM by PIB Delhi
Board of Radiation & Isotope Technology (BRIT) is a Constituent Unit of Department of Atomic Energy
which provides products and services based on radiation & isotopes for applications in healthcare,
agriculture, research and industry.
Whether this
d o m e s t i c
Names of key
production is
medical Quantity Details thereof
sufficient to meet
radioisotopes
national demand
(Yes or No)
Lutetium-177 BRIT fulfills ~ 85-90 %
1000-1200 Curie Lu-177: Yes
(Lu-177) of country’s demand for
Lu-177 while part of the
Iodine-131
1000-1200 Curie I-131: No domestic demand is
(I-131)
catered to in case of I
Molybdenum-99
131 and Mo-99.
8000-10000
(Mo-99) (parent of Mo-99: No
F-18 [half-life: 110 min]
Curie
Tc-99m)
being short lived poses a
logistical challenge and
limits its distribution
range. Thus, F-18
products produced at
Fluorine-18
300-400 Curie F-18: No MCF, Parel and Cyclon-
(F-18)
30 are supplied to nearby
hospitals only and not
sufficient to meet national
demand.
There is no demand-supply mismatch in Ga‑68. However, there is a demand-supply mismatch for Mo-99 and
approximately 10-15 % gap in demand and supply of Lu 177.
Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, a Research and Development unit under Department of Atomic Energy
(DAE) has obtained in principle approval for the PPP-based isotope reactor project and Detailed Project
Report (DPR) is under review for administrative and financial sanction of the project. It is expected that
production is likely to start around 2035 with 0.5 MCi(million Curie)radio-isotope production capacity.
Tata Memorial Centre (TMC), a Grant-in-Aid institution under DAE has already expanded affordable
nuclear medicine infrastructure in Tier–2 and Tier– 3 cities. The names of such Tier-2 cities are New
Chandigarh, Visakhapatnam, Bhubaneswar, Guwahati, Varanasi, Muzaffarpur (Bihar) and Tier-3 city isSangrur (Punjab).
This information was given by Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science
and Technology, Earth Sciences, MoS PMO, MoS Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Department of
Atomic Energy and Department of Space, in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.
***
NKR/PSM
(Release ID: 2153081)