PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Cathy S. Cutler
AU  - Elizabeth Bailey
AU  - Vijay Kumar
AU  - Sally W. Schwarz
AU  - Hee-Seung Bom
AU  - Jun Hatazawa
AU  - Diana Paez
AU  - Pilar Orellana
AU  - Lizette Louw
AU  - Fernando Mut
AU  - Hiroki Kato
AU  - Arturo Chiti
AU  - Savvas Frangos
AU  - Frederic Fahey
AU  - Gary Dillehay
AU  - Seung J. Oh
AU  - Dong S. Lee
AU  - Sze-Ting Lee
AU  - Rodolfo Nunez-Miller
AU  - Guru Bandhopadhyaya
AU  - Prasanta K. Pradhan
AU  - Andrew M. Scott
TI  - Global Issues of Radiopharmaceutical Access and Availability: A Nuclear Medicine Global Initiative Project
AID  - 10.2967/jnumed.120.247197
DP  - 2021 Mar 01
TA  - Journal of Nuclear Medicine
PG  - 422--430
VI  - 62
IP  - 3
4099  - http://jnm.snmjournals.org/content/62/3/422.short
4100  - http://jnm.snmjournals.org/content/62/3/422.full
SO  - J Nucl Med2021 Mar 01; 62
AB  - The Nuclear Medicine Global Initiative was formed in 2012 by 13 international organizations to promote human health by advancing the field of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging by supporting the practice and application of nuclear medicine. The first project focused on standardization of administered activities in pediatric nuclear medicine and resulted in 2 articles. For its second project the Nuclear Medicine Global Initiative chose to explore issues impacting on access and availability of radiopharmaceuticals around the world. Methods: Information was obtained by survey responses from 35 countries on available radioisotopes, radiopharmaceuticals, and kits for diagnostic and therapeutic use. Issues impacting on access and availability of radiopharmaceuticals in individual countries were also identified. Results: Detailed information on radiopharmaceuticals used in each country, and sources of supply, was evaluated. Responses highlighted problems in access, particularly due to the reliance on a sole provider, regulatory issues, and reimbursement, as well as issues of facilities and workforce, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Conclusion: Strategies to address access and availability of radiopharmaceuticals are outlined, to enable timely and equitable patient access to nuclear medicine procedures worldwide. In the face of disruptions to global supply chains by the coronavirus disease 2019 outbreak, renewed focus on ensuring a reliable supply of radiopharmaceuticals is a major priority for nuclear medicine practice globally.