Status of Nuclear Medicine in India

Dr Vikram Lele

President, Western Chapter,

Society of Nuclear Medicine, India

Society of Nuclear Medicine, India

Formed in 1968 Headquarters: Radiation Medicine Centre,

Mumbai Members : 500 Physicians : 100 Physicists, chemists,

technologists,beaurocrats

Organization of SNM India

1 President 1 President elect 2 Hon. Secretaries 1 Hon. Treasurer 6 executive committee members 3 ex officio members (immediate past secretary

and 2 immediate past presidents) Election to all posts by postal ballot after

nomination

organization

Term of office: President 1 year Rest 2 years

Website www.snmindia.org

Organs of the SNM, India

Indian College of Nuclear Medicine(ICNM) Activities: organizing continuing medical

education programme during annual conference

Headed by Dean Publication of multi author Indian Text book of

Nuclear medicine Development of guidelines for performing

various scans

Organs of SNM, India

Indian Journal of Nuclear Medicine Published quarterly since 1980 Publication of original research papers,

review articles,case reports from India and neighbouring countries

Chapters of SNM, India

4 regional Chapters:

Northern Chapter

Western Chapter

Eastern Chapter

Southern Chapter Each Chapter has President, secretary,

treasurer and executive committee

Chapters

Each Chapter holds monthly meetings, CME programmes, local conferences and promotes Nuclear Medicine in geographical area

Each Chapter sends nominations for Oration awards for the Annual Conference

Annual Conference of SNM, India

Held in December every year Association with Indo-American Society of

Nuclear Medicine 3 orations conferred during conference

• Homi Bhabha oration Vikram Sarabhai oration Brig. Mazumdar orationEmeritus Professor Ramdas award

Other associations affiliated with SNM,India

Nuclear Cardiological Society of India(NCSI)

Association of Nuclear Medicine Physicians of India (ANMPI)

Association of Medical Physicists of India Indian Association for Radiological

Protection

Regulatory bodies

Atomic Energy Regulatory Board Supervises licencing of:

Physicians Nuclear Medicine Laboratories Technologists

Regulates import & transport of radioisotopes and handles radiation protection issues through RPSD

Training for Nuclear Medicine

Physicians: DRM (Diploma in Radiation Medicine) 2 year course followed

by university examination (written and practical) offered at 3 centers

DNB ( Diplomate of National Boards) Nuclear Medicine. 3 year degree course offered at 5 centers

MD( Nuclear Medicine) 3 year degree course offered at 2 centers

Technologists DMRIT( Diploma in Medical Radiation Technology) 1 year

university diploma offered at 3 centers

Nuclear Medicine centres in India

Over 130 Gamma cameras Most single head, few dual heads one

Triple head 1 PET camera (GE Advance) and

Cyclotron in Mumbai 3 Coincidence PET cameras in Mumbai Centers mainly in main metro cities

Nuclear Medicine Week

Held yearly in September or October 1 week of intense activity by 4 chapters to

popularize Nuclear Medicine Lectures given in major teaching hospitals

to increase awareness among undergraduates and postgraduates

Problems

Too few Nuclear Physicians Too few Nuclear Technologists Too few nuclear Medicine centers Lack of awareness of Nuclear medicine at

undergraduate and postgraduate level Overregulation by rigid beaurocracy

Solutions

Increase number of training programmes for Nuclear Physicians and Technologists

Incorporate Nuclear Medicine into syllabus for undergraduate and Post graduates

Make regulatory bodies less rigid and more sensitive to practical issues