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India has achieved a significant milestone in healthcare infrastructure, with more than 500 nuclear medicine facilities now available across both government and private sectors, according to Union Minister of State for the Department of Atomic Energy, Dr. Jitendra Singh. The announcement was made during a recent session in Parliament, highlighting the expanding role of nuclear medicine in diagnostics and treatment for a variety of ailments, especially cancer.
Nuclear medicine leverages technologies such as Single Photon Emission Computerised Tomography (SPECT), Positron Emission Tomography (PET), and Computerised Tomography (CT) devices, which allow for advanced diagnostic imaging and evaluation for cancer staging, restaging, and therapy response. These methods offer unique insights into organ function, surpassing the capabilities of traditional X-rays and CT scans that depict only anatomical structures.
Dr. Singh emphasized government initiatives aimed at bolstering research and development in nuclear medicine. This includes the ongoing indigenous production and improvement of radioisotopes and radiopharmaceuticals at institutions like the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC). Such products are continually being launched to address medical applications like radiation synovectomy, therapies for neuroendocrine tumors, breast cancer, bone pain, liver cancer, and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
To meet growing medical needs, the Board of Radiation and Isotope Technology (BRIT) supplies these radioisotopes and radiopharmaceuticals to centers nationwide, enhancing access to diagnostic and therapeutic services—even in rural and underserved areas. The Tata Memorial Centre, under the Department of Atomic Energy, recently opened the P Ramaiah Naidu Shodhika—an advanced nuclear medicine research and treatment unit, featuring one of the largest therapeutic nuclear medicine facilities globally with 41 specialized beds. Additional centers in Varanasi and elsewhere now offer comprehensive diagnostic and therapeutic nuclear medicine services using advanced PET/CT and SPECT/CT equipment.
The Minister also noted steps taken on indigenization of radio-pharma products and their commercialization, ensuring India’s self-sufficiency and providing cost-effective alternatives to imported medications.
Disclaimer:
This article is based on statements made by the Union Minister of State for the Department of Atomic Energy and draws upon information available from government disclosures and media reports as of July 31, 2025. For detailed clinical or procedural advice on nuclear medicine, always consult a qualified medical professional.
