Global status and interests on medical radioisotope supply

The production radiopharmaceuticals for medical purposes is essential in global societies for ensuring a good health level among the population through appropriate diagnostic and therapy of a wide range of pathologies. Shortages of medical isotopes, especially with moly 99m, may jeopardize the health of millions of patients worldwide. Recent crises leading to significant radiopharmaceuticals shortage have shown the fragility of the production chain based on a limited number of reactors and processing facilities. With the forecast shutdown of the reactors starting from 2015 in France and the age of other facilities worldwide, further supply difficulties of medical radioisotopes are likely. There is an urgent need to act to reinforce the complets production chain leading to this essential serve to the society. In this paper, the current status and efforts to overcome present crisis will be discussed as well as to enhance the short term supply security will be discussed