TY - JOUR T1 - Global Issues of Radiopharmaceutical Access and Availability: A Nuclear Medicine Global Initiative Project JF - Journal of Nuclear Medicine JO - J Nucl Med SP - 422 LP - 430 DO - 10.2967/jnumed.120.247197 VL - 62 IS - 3 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 Y1 - 2021/03/01 UR - http://jnm.snmjournals.org/content/62/3/422.abstract N2 - 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. ER -