The Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) will recommence production of technetium-99m (Tc-99m) generators next week.
ANSTO has been importing the generators from the US since a mechanical issue with a conveyer belt was identified on 22 June 2018.
The fault has been fixed and quality control tests are now being finalised.
Each week ANSTO normally provides this nuclear medicine to 250 hospitals, clinics and pharmaceutical suppliers in Australia and the region.
In clinical settings, technetium-99m is used to diagnose a variety of heart, cancer, lung and muscular skeletal conditions.
While the US-supplied medicine has been ongoing, there have been periodic disruptions, and ANSTO is looking forward to recommencing our own supply for the benefit of patients around Australia and the region.
“We are now working through a controlled start-up process that incorporates full equipment checks, and will then ramp up our production,” a spokesperson for ANSTO said.
“ANSTO has worked closely with our customers and the wider Australian health community during the recent supply issues.
“We’ve apologised for the impact, we look forward to recommencing production and will be in touch with each customer to discuss the transition.
“This nuclear medicine is a critical part of the Australian health landscape, enabling up to 10,000 diagnoses a week, and if anything, this experience has very much highlighted the value of our domestic supplies.
“We would like to take the opportunity to thank the Australian nuclear medicine community for their support during this interruption.”
Media contact: Phil McCall 0438 619 987
Published: 03/08/2018