Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Aug 6: In a concerning revelation during a Lok Sabha session, the Central government officially acknowledged a nationwide shortage of essential medical radioisotopes used in cancer diagnosis and treatment. The disclosure came in response to a question raised by Rajasthan MP Hanuman Beniwal, who highlighted the growing crisis in cancer care across the country, especially in underserved regions.
The shortage affects key isotopes such as Iodine-131 (I-131), used for thyroid cancer treatment; Molybdenum-99 (Mo-99), the parent isotope of Technetium-99m (Tc-99m) which is vital for nuclear medicine imaging; Fluorine-18 (F-18), used in PET scans; and Lutetium-177 (Lu-177), important in advanced cancer therapies. According to the government, supply of these isotopes is currently falling short of national demand, with Lu-177 facing a 10–15% deficit. However, the government claimed that it had not received any formal complaints from hospitals—an assertion that Beniwal strongly contested.
Beniwal stated that the ground reality was much grimmer. He pointed out that hospitals, particularly in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, are regularly experiencing delays and interruptions in supply, which is forcing postponement of diagnostics and treatments. The shortage is especially acute in Rajasthan, where cancer hospitals in cities like Jaipur and Jodhpur often struggle with delayed treatments due to unreliable isotope availability. In districts such as Nagaur, Bikaner, Sikar, and Jhunjhunu, patients frequently have to travel 200–300 km just to access basic diagnostic services. This adds a significant burden of time, travel, and cost on already vulnerable patients, many of whom come from rural and economically weaker backgrounds.
The government also informed Parliament that a new isotope reactor being developed under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model is only expected to become operational by 2035. This means that for the next decade, India will have to rely solely on limited domestic production and costly imports to meet its growing needs in cancer diagnostics and therapy.
Expressing concern over the long delay, Beniwal called on the government to ramp up domestic production of key isotopes on a war footing. He urged the immediate development of technical cooperation with global nuclear medicine partners, establishment of cold chain logistics systems, and the strengthening of the national isotope distribution network. He also recommended launching mobile isotope units to ensure access in remote areas and introducing digital tracking systems for time-sensitive isotopes like F-18.
Beniwal warned that if these shortages remain unaddressed, the country could soon face a major public health crisis, with millions of cancer patients affected due to lack of access to timely diagnosis and treatment.