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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider DOST-PNRI breaks ground for Nuclear Medicine Research and Innovation Centre

DOST-PNRI breaks ground for Nuclear Medicine Research and Innovation Centre

Published Jan 31, 2022 07:25 pm

The Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (DOST-PNRI) has started on Monday, Jan. 31, the construction of the Nuclear Medicine Research and Innovation Centre.

(PNRI)

DOST Secretary Fortunato "Boy" de la Pena stressed the importance of nuclear medicine, especially for cancer patients.

"In the Philippines, cancer is one of the top non-communicable killers with a mortality rate of 60 percent. In 2020, there were about 153,751 new cases of cancer in the Philippines. It is also projected that by year 2040 the number of cancer incidences will increase by 69.4 percent for the male population and 56.8 percent for the female population," de la Pena said.

"This is why the Nuclear Medicine and Innovation Centre is expected to bring hope in decreasing the cost of cancer diagnosis and treatment in the Philippines. This is through its facilities, the cyclotron and Positron Emission Tomography or PET scanners," he added.

Cyclotrons, De la Pena explained, produce radiopharmaceuticals used for PET-CT. It emits low doses of radiation that are not harmful.

There are currently three operational cyclotrons in the country and all of them are located in Metro Manila.

De la Pena said some cyclotron facilities are also being constructed in the Visayas and Mindanao.

Meanwhile, PET is used in the diagnostic algorithm in oncology, such as cancer staging and re-stagging, specifically in the lung, gastrointestinal, breast, malignant melanoma, head and neck, and other cancers. PET is also used in neurology and immunology.

Through the Nuclear Medicine Research and Innovation Centre, De la Pena said cancer staging and management will be more affordable and reachable to the Filipinos.

"How can this facility help our cancer patients? Let's first take a look at the cost of the scan. One scan costs about P70,000 to P100,000, which makes the current cancer staging and diagnostic procedures available only to patients with money and through charitable arrangements," he added.

"This Centre will then contribute to the provision of quality nuclear imaging service with sustainability in line with the goals of universal health care for the Filipino people," he furthered.

The Nuclear Medicine Research and Innovation Centre is also set to serve as a training hub for human resources in the field of PET radiochemistry and PET Radiopharmaceutical Production and Applications in Southeast Asia.

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Department of Science and Technology Nuclear Medicine Research and Innovation Centre
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