Cheaper nuclear medical technology when centre completed says Nuclear Agency DG

KOTA BARU: Malaysians will have access to cheaper nuclear medical technology when the high-capacity cyclotron centre in Bangi, Selangor is completed in three years time.

Nuclear Agency director-general Datuk Dr Muhamad Lebai Juri said the RM240 million 30 MeV (Mega electron Volt) facility would be able to produce more radioisotopes to treat chronic illnesses such as brain and bone cancer.

"The cyclotron is used for medical imaging, radio diagnostic and radiotherapy as well as the production of radioisotopes for diagnosis and treatment.

"The radioisotopes we produce now is limited to detecting and treating only a few cancers such as breast and liver cancers," he said after opening the 36th Medical Imaging Seminar here Sunday.

He said so far in Asia only Japan and South Korea had the latest technology and Malaysia had only four low-capacity cyclotrons at 18 MeV with one of them a government facility and the rest in private hospitals.

"The rich may afford more choices in treatment abroad. A single dose could cost as much as RM7,000 not including other treatments.

"We hope to provide people with more comprehensive and cheaper medical facilities with this new centre," he said. -Bernama