[en] Contemplation of the use of nuclear medicine technologies in developing countries raises the issue, what purposes they would serve in relation to the major health needs of the region. This investigation was an attempt to assess and to test a methodology for conducting this assessment. Several potential nuclear medicine applications were selected on the basis of their intrinsic promise and in order to evaluate a variety of techniques. These applications were then subjected to a cost-effectiveness analysis, either on their own or in comparison with some competing procedure. To give reality to the study, it was performed in the context of the Indian health scene. The situations examined were the following: Screening blood units for hepatitis B surface antigen prior to transfusion. Costs and benefits of radiorespirometry and conventional culture methods as means to improve case-finding in tuberculosis surveys. Improved tests for diagnosing tuberculous meningitis. Population screening for thyroid diseases. Studies of this type are typically impeded by an insufficiency of key data, they nevertheless can shed some light on the value of potential radionuclide applications