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St. Petersburg Hosts First BRICS International Forum on Nuclear Medicine

The first high-level BRICS International Forum on Nuclear Medicine, which was organized by the Russian Ministry of Health and the Rosatom State Corporation, was held in St. Petersburg on 20–21 June 2024.
The Forum events were attended by more than 250 representatives of BRICS countries responsible for cooperation in nuclear medicine, leading experts from specialized scientific and educational nuclear medicine centres, as well as developers and manufacturers of radiopharmaceuticals.
“Cooperation in nuclear medicine is of particular importance among the new BRICS initiatives. Today, nuclear medicine in Russia and the association’s countries has achieved success in the manufacturing of various radiopharmaceuticals,” Russian Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova said in her opening remarks at the Forum.
Golikova said one of the goals of such cooperation will be to strengthen technological independence by developing the domestic production of radiopharmaceuticals and medical equipment in order to increase trade volume.
Russian Minister of Health Mikhail Murashko delivered opening remarks at the Forum: “Today, the association is focusing on a new era – nuclear medicine. BRICS countries have significant potential for the development and use of nuclear medicine methods and tools. I am glad that we are continuing to interact and exchange best practices. This productive collaboration will contribute to the implementation of joint achievements in practical healthcare.”
St. Petersburg Governor Alexander Beglov added that it was no coincidence that Russia’s northern capital was chosen to host the Forum, noting that Russian radiology and nuclear medicine were established in St. Petersburg more than 100 years ago. Nowadays, the city is home to major federal and private diagnostic and therapy centres.
Rosatom State Corporation Deputy Director General for Science and Strategy Yury Olenin stressed the importance of nuclear medicine as one of the main focuses for the development of healthcare in Russia: “Nuclear medicine is a priority in Rosatom’s activities. The state corporation is developing infrastructure for the provision of medical care, producing and supplying medical isotopes and radiopharmaceuticals, creating equipment for diagnostics and therapy, and developing solutions for the ionizing processing of medical products. Russia is committed to mutually beneficial cooperation in the development of nuclear medicine in BRICS countries.”
The Forum featured 16 panel sections that focused on development of effective radiopharmaceuticals and specialized equipment, training of personnel in specialized professions, and incorporation of advanced technological solutions in radiopharmaceuticals into medical practice.
During the events, experts from BRICS countries discussed proposals and recommendations for effective cooperation and interaction within BRICS to achieve the common goal of improving the quality of life and reducing the mortality of patients with oncological and non-oncological diseases. In particular, the participants discussed issues related to the development and production of effective radiopharmaceuticals used for the diagnosis and treatment of various diseases in oncology, cardiology, endocrinology, and psychiatry.
The officials discussed some of the national specifics of the production and regulation of radiopharmaceuticals, along with their expert examinations and state registration in BRICS countries, participation in international multicentre clinical trials, and opportunities for the harmonization of regulatory requirements and the recognition of clinical trial results.
During the Forum, the decision was made to publish an Overview of BRICS Best Practices in Nuclear Medicine, which will be presented within the United Nations, World Health Organization, International Agency for Research on Cancer, and the International Atomic Energy Agency.
The results of the Forum, including the Overview of BRICS Best Practices in Nuclear Medicine, will be presented at the 14th Meeting of BRICS Health Ministers (Moscow, October 2024).
The Roscongress Foundation manages the events of Russia’s BRICS Chairship.