NNRA LICENSED FIRST MEDICAL CYCLOTRON IN NIGERIA

NNRA LICENSED FIRST MEDICAL CYCLOTRON IN NIGERIA

A Medical Cyclotron was recently licensed in Lagos by the NNRA. The Cyclotron belonging to Me-Cure Healthcare Limited, Lagos a private entity, first of its kind in Nigeria. A medical cyclotron is used to produce short-lived radioisotopes for imaging (diagnosis) in nuclear medicine practice. Most short-lived radioisotopes for imaging in the country were imported from Europe and South Africa prior to the construction, installation, commissioning and licensing of the cyclotron by the NNRA.

During an NNRA In-House Seminar, Mrs Fatima Ige the Head of Medical Application Department stated that the Cyclotron in Lagos is currently operational and that five more centers are under construction. The centers which the NNRA already issued them with Certificate of Registration of Premises include: Imo International Health System, Kaduna Comprehensive Cancer Centre, African Medical Centre of Excellence Abuja, Cyclomed Abuja and Hillside Multispecialty Hospital Abuja.

The NNRA has developed requirements and applies multi-stage licensing approach in authorizing cyclotron and PET-CT nuclear medicine facilities in the country.