One million patients can use the radio-pharmaceuticals produced here and if we didn’t have this technology, we would face many problems in treating patients,’ declared the head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), Mohamad Eslami.

Fortunately, the AEOI now has the capacity to produce radio-pharmaceuticals and radiation systems, among other capabilities, to address medical needs that cannot be procured abroad because of sanctions, Eslami warned.

In the not too distant future, Iran will become the center for the production of deuterium-based medicines, which are considered a very suitable alternative to chemical drugs, given their low side effects compared to the latter, the head of the nuclear entity noted.

Before this local entity could achieve such advances in the field of medicine, some patients needed to travel outside the country to receive treatment, but now, thanks to the great steps taken in this field, it is not necessary to do so, he pointed out.

So far, despite the progress made, it would still be necessary to supply the radioactive particle called cobalt-60 to produce the Gamma Knife used in radio-surgery here, the expert added.

Nuclear medicine is one of the main examples of the peaceful use of nuclear energy and the country has made rapid progress in the field of production of therapeutic and diagnostic radiopharmaceuticals, according to a Hispantv television web dispatch.

Iran currently produces more than 50 types of radiopharmaceuticals with world-class technology, which is why experts consider it to be at the forefront of the region, both in this field and in nuclear medicine.

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