Scientists and the medical community have harnessed the unique characteristics of radioactivity for both medical diagnostic and therapeutic applications since its discovery. Nuclear medicine is now an integral part of hospitals and related infrastructure, with millions of people benefiting annually from its applications.
Technetium-99m, for example, is routinely used to diagnose a wide range of conditions, from cancer to cardiovascular and neurological disorders. On the therapeutic side, iodine-131 has been used for more than 50 years for cancer and hyperthyroidism efficient treatments. While these practices are essential to public health and include life-saving care, the broad deployment of nuclear medicine continues to face challenges: the security of supply for molybdenum-99, the parent isotope of technetium-99m, remains vulnerable due to a limited number of producers, ageing facilities and geopolitical factors. At the same time, the rapid rise of therapeutic radioisotopes such as lutetium-177 and actinium-225 for cancer treatment has drawn increasing interest from both the medical community and the nuclear sector, underlining the need for strengthened supply chains.
In this evolving and challenging environment, the Agency plays a crucial role in co-ordinating efforts to secure resilient supply chains, understanding fast-changing market dynamics and developing policies that support the adoption of life-saving technologies.
Over the past 15 years, the NEA has undertaken a number of initiatives, including the creation of the High-Level Group on the Security of Supply of Medical Radioisotopes (HLG-MR). Across four successful mandates, the HLG-MR identified the root causes of supply instability, proposed principles to enhance resilience, and brought together stakeholders from governments, industry, and regulatory bodies to strengthen international co-ordination.
Building on this legacy, the NEA continues to monitor and analyse the global landscape of medical radioisotopes by convening experts in dedicated workshops such as the International Workshops on Medical Radioisotope Supply .
The Agency also tracks the availability of key isotopes, assesses emerging challenges and provides evidence-based recommendations to ensure that these technologies reach their full potential in improving health outcomes and saving lives.
