[en] In accordance with literature data radiopharmaceuticals with ruthenium-97 are being successfully used in clinical diagnostics. In some cases the results attained are better than ones obtained with gallium-67, indium-111 and technetium-99m. We claim the proton irradiation of metallic technetium to the only suitable way for large-scale production of ruthenium-97. Radiochemical procedure is developed for ruthenium-97 separation from proton-irradiated technetium metal, which is based on volatility of ⁹⁷RuO₄ from concentrated solutions of oxygen-containing acids at 90-100 deg C. Ruthenium yield not lower than 95%, purification from technetium higher than 10⁴. ⁹⁷RuCl₃ as final product is obtained in 5M HCl solution of high specific activity. Time required for separation is 5-7 hours. If large-scale regular production of ruthenium-97 is organized, then the relatively cheap radionuclide would find its proper place within the group of most widely used medical radionuclides