TEHRAN –A national conference on the role and applications of nuclear technology in the healthcare system was held from August 9 to 10 at Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran.

Nuclear technology plays an important role in developing science and technology in various sectors, so it should be introduced further to benefit from the technology by expanding result-oriented research, designing and building systems, and enhancing existing capacities, IRIB quoted Mohammad Eslami, the head of Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI).

“Iran is among the top three countries producing radiopharmaceuticals worldwide. Currently, 60 radiopharmaceuticals are being produced and distributed in the country, and 20 more products are undergoing clinical trials,” the official said.

Iran's radiopharmaceuticals have the capacity to be exported; they are currently exported to several countries all over the world. These products have short lifetimes, so they require a flight network to be delivered to the destination countries as soon as possible, the official added.

Iran has revolutionized its health and medicine sector by producing heavy water which is of the highest quality in the world, Eslami highlighted.

Taking measures in developing radiation has resulted in a 2.5 times growth compared to the past year, which ended on March 19, and has led to the establishment of several new healthcare centers which will be launched soon, the official stated.

Nuclear products present in global markets

In July, Eslami announced that Iran has successfully broken the monopoly in nuclear technology, allowing Iranian services and products to penetrate global markets.

He made the remarks during an interview with the Office for the Preservation and Publication of the Works of Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution.

He declared that various countries have been purchasing Iranian heavy water and receiving services from Iranian specialists. The nuclear chief also emphasized that Iran is now positioned to export radiopharmaceuticals to countries around the world.

“Our capabilities in nuclear technology have enabled us to provide services and products that are now present in global markets,” Eslami stated.

“Given our capacity and production potential, we can export radiopharmaceuticals to all parts of the world.”

Eslami further elaborated on the global demand for radiopharmaceuticals, stating, “Radiopharmaceuticals have a wide global market, and there is significant demand for various types of products. As long as the transportation service can deliver these medicines, we have the capability to provide services and produce products.”

The official also announced that following the success of the 1st International Conference on Nuclear Science and Technology held in Esfahan this year, several countries have requested educational and research collaboration with Iran.

In November 2023, Behrouz Kamalvandi, AEOI spokesman, stated that the healthcare industry has received a lot of support from the nuclear organization recently.

He announced that the Food and Drug Administration of the Health Ministry has awarded the AEOI a contract to manufacture 66 new radiopharmaceuticals.

“A range of domestically produced radiopharmaceuticals for cancer diagnosis and treatment are being developed with world-class quality,” Kamalvandi stated. 

In December 2022, Eslami announced that Iran aspires to become a worldwide hub for the production of deuterium pharmaceuticals.

“In a not-too-distant future we will turn into a hub for manufacturing drugs based on deuterium which are good alternatives to chemical drugs and have lower side effects in comparison (to those drugs),” Eslami said. 

MT/MG