Speaker
Description
Expanding access to nuclear medicine and molecular imaging in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) remains a major global health challenge. Despite the growing importance of these technologies in oncology, cardiology, and other non-communicable diseases, significant disparities persist in infrastructure availability, trained workforce, and sustainable supply chains for radiopharmaceuticals.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has developed a comprehensive strategy to support the scale-up of nuclear medicine services in LMICs through coordinated technical cooperation projects, regional training networks, and international expert missions. These initiatives address the entire value chain of nuclear medicine implementation, including equipment procurement, facility design, radiopharmacy capabilities, clinical training of physicians, technologists and medical physicists, and long-term sustainability planning.
This presentation will review key IAEA programmes aimed at strengthening nuclear medicine capacity, with examples from Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Particular attention will be given to innovative approaches to workforce development, regional collaboration, and sustainable technology deployment, illustrating how international cooperation can contribute to reducing global inequities in access to advanced medical imaging and targeted radionuclide therapies.