The quantum of nuclear medicines used in the country has shown a marginal increase during the last couple of years with the number of diagnostic imaging studies performed per year in India ranging from 2.5 lakh to 3 lakh and the number of patient sample analysis carried out using immunoassay kits working out to about 5 lakh per year.

According to the records submitted in the Lok Sabha by the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) last week, 367 curies of Iodine 131 was made use for therapeutic purposes during year 2001. The quantity was 340 and 301 curies respectively during the previous years.

The number of technetium-99m kit products used for diagnostic studies (in vivo) was 38,064 kit vials (2001) as against 31242 (2000) and 32,622 (1999) during the previous years.

Molybdenum-99 for preparation of rechnetium-99m products for diagnostic studies (in vivo) was less in demand with the usage coming down to 409 curies (2001) from 473 and 500 curies during the previous years.

The official figures pointed out that the number of products for in vitro analysis (immunoassay) also came down to 7738 in 2001. It was 7906 (2000) and 8306 (1999) during the previous years.

A few thousand patients are treated for thyroid disorders using radioiodine every year. The quantum of major radiopharmaceuticals supplied during the last three years also gave an indication of the extent of nuclear medicine practices carried out in the country. According to the ministry figures, the number of patient sample analysis carried out using immunoassay kits would work out to about 5 lakh and an estimated 2.5 to 3 lakh diagnostic imaging studies are performed per year.