Medical Radioisotopes still Produced but Facing Distribution Challenges Globally, Data Collected by IAEA Shows

South Africa is among the major producers of medical radioisotopes, supplying clients all around the world.

The South African government announced a national lockdown as of 27 March 2020 to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Medical radioisotopes are classified as essential products and, as such, research reactor SAFARI-1 and South African manufacturer NTP Radioisotopes continue operations to produce them. Both SAFARI-1 and NTP Radioisotopes have implemented operational restrictions to curb the spread of COVID-19 on-site.  

Despite these measures, production is now below capacity, due to challenges in the cross-border distribution of the radioisotopes produced and to a decrease in international orders, as global medical efforts focus on responses to the pandemic. To accommodate this, NTP Radioisotopes has adjusted its production runs since lockdown but has continued sending out weekly shipments. The operation of SAFARI-1 has continued in tandem. It is envisaged that radioisotope production in these facilities will increase as lockdown measures across the globe are adjusted.

“Highest medical priority is given to COVID-19 patients in most or all countries, but let us not forget the millions of patients who depend on medical radioisotopes,” said Koos du Bruyn, Senior Manager of the SAFARI-1 Research Reactor at the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation (NECSA).  Global distribution of medical radioisotopes has been ensured through a partnership with South Africa's state-owned national carrier, South African Airways.

While some countries and companies are organizing charter flights for the delivery of radiopharmaceuticals, not all governments can afford that, Osso Junior said. 

The most common medical radioisotope, technetium-99m (Tc-99m), is used in some 40 million procedures per year, according to the World Nuclear Association. It accounts for about 80% of all nuclear medicine procedures and 85% of diagnostic scans in nuclear medicine worldwide.

Technetium-99 comes from molybdenum-99 (Mo-99), and all major producers of this radioisotope continue to operate, according to the results of a survey conducted by the IAEA. Research reactors in Argentina, Australia, Belgium, France, Poland, the Netherlands, Russia, South Africa and the United States are prepared to continue to meet demand. Once molybdenum-99 is ready, it is sent to other countries – mainly by air – as a source of technetium-99m at hospitals and nuclear medicine centres, which is normally given to a patient within hours.

Hospitals in some countries around the world have been forced to reschedule interventions, as they no longer receive molybdenum-99.