Tajikistan, Russia plan nuclear medicine center to boost cancer care
Tajikistan teams up with Russia’s Rosatom to build its first nuclear medicine center amid rising cancer cases and diagnostic gaps
DUSHANBE, Tajikistan (MNTV) — Tajikistan is set to establish its first nuclear medicine center under an agreement with Russia’s state nuclear corporation, Rosatom, aimed at enhancing cancer diagnosis and treatment in the country.
According to independent media outlet Asia Plus, the announcement was made earlier this week during a meeting between Tajik Prime Minister Qohir Rasoulzoda and his Russian counterpart, Mikhail Mishustin. A roadmap for the project was approved last year during expert-level talks between both countries.
The facility, expected to span 5,000 square meters, will include diagnostic and therapeutic units, a 10-bed inpatient ward, and a training and research wing. It is projected to serve around 2,500 patients annually, addressing the country’s growing cancer burden.
Health officials highlight that nearly half of all cancer patients in Tajikistan are diagnosed at an advanced stage. The new center will use nuclear technologies to improve early detection and treatment planning. Key equipment will include PET scanners, MRI machines, and a cyclotron-radiochemical complex for producing radioisotopes.
The therapeutic unit will offer radiation therapy using linear accelerators, brachytherapy systems, and radiopharmaceuticals—allowing for more precise, targeted cancer care.
To ensure long-term sustainability, a dedicated training program is being developed in coordination with the Ministry of Education and Science. Plans are underway to integrate nuclear medicine into the curricula of the National University of Tajikistan and the Tajik State Medical University.
The country’s main cancer institute, the Republican Scientific Oncological Center (RONC), is partnering with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to develop the center. RONC already employs trained medical physicists who will play a key role in building staff capacity, particularly in the cities of Khujand and Bokhtar, where additional oncology branches are expected.
While the center has strong political and institutional backing, no official timeline for its opening has been announced. The Ministry of Health said the launch is contingent on ongoing administrative and intergovernmental negotiations.
Have Your Say!
Have you been affected by the issues raised in this story? Please share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@soundvision.com.
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a Muslim Network TV’s representative. You can also get in touch in the following ways:
Tweet: @MuslimNetworkTV
We must take charge of our narrative. Research indicates that 92% of their Muslim coverage is negative. Help us change that.
