A Nuclear Medicine Center is expected to be built in the Tajik soon, following an agreement between the Government of Tajikistan and Russia’s state nuclear corporation, Rosatom.  The plan was confirmed by Tajikistan’s Prime Minister Qohir Rasoulzoda during a meeting with Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin on May 25.

An official source within the Ministry of Health and Social Protection of the Population (MoHSPP) says a roadmap for the center’s development was approved in July 2023 during a meeting of expert working groups.  The center will be designed with a focus on addressing the country’s growing cancer burden.

A first for Tajikistan’s healthcare sector

The facility is expected to cover an area of 5,000 square meters and is expected to serve up to 2,500 patients annually.  It will house diagnostic and therapeutic departments, a 10-bed inpatient ward, and a training and research unit.

The diagnostic unit will be equipped with a radioisotope diagnostics lab, a cyclotron-radiochemical complex, PET (positron emission tomography) scanners, and MRI equipment.

The therapeutic wing will include radiation therapy services using advanced linear accelerators, brachytherapy systems, and specialized treatments with radiopharmaceuticals.

Improving cancer diagnosis and treatment

Health officials stress the center’s importance for early and accurate cancer diagnosis. “According to medical literature, around 50% of cancer patients in Tajikistan are diagnosed at an advanced stage,” said the source.  “Proper staging using nuclear medicine tools is crucial for effective treatment planning.”

Such technologies allow doctors not only to confirm the type and spread of tumors but also to assess the viability of cancer cells. This helps in tailoring individualized treatment strategies.

Training future specialists

To support the new center, a training program for medical staff is being developed in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Science.  The government is also considering introducing nuclear medicine into the curriculum of the National University of Tajikistan and the Tajik State Medical University.

The Republican Scientific Oncological Center (RONC), Tajikistan’s leading cancer treatment institution, is working closely with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).  Each year, several Tajik medical radiologists undergo training at leading international centers.  RONC currently employs two medical physicists experienced in operating similar technology.  These professionals are expected to help train future staff, including those in the cities of Khujand and Bokhtar, where regional oncology branches are planned.

When will the center open?

While the project has political and institutional backing, no official timeline has been announced for the center’s opening.  According to the Ministry of Health, the launch date is still pending due to ongoing administrative and intergovernmental negotiations.  Officials at RONC also confirmed they have not yet been informed of the expected completion date.