Global collaboration in nuclear medicine.

Nuclear Medicine's Global Renaissance: How Collaboration Can Save Lives

Mira Elwood in Health & Wellness December 2025 • 4 min read.

"A global initiative seeks to democratize nuclear medicine, making advanced diagnostics and treatments accessible worldwide."

The field of nuclear medicine stands at a critical juncture. While precision and personalized medicine are advancing rapidly in some parts of the world, many nations still grapple with fundamental infrastructure challenges. This disparity highlights a pressing need for global collaboration to ensure that the benefits of nuclear medicine reach all corners of the earth.

Despite significant efforts, nuclear medicine remains in its infancy in many regions. Countries like Japan, Korea, and China lead in performing nuclear medicine procedures, but others face hurdles such as inadequate infrastructure, a lack of trained professionals, and economic constraints. These challenges underscore the urgent need for a coordinated global strategy.

The World Federation of Nuclear Medicine and Biology (WFNMB) is stepping up to bridge this gap. By forging a strong relationship with the World Health Organization (WHO), the WFNMB aims to democratize nuclear medicine, making it accessible and beneficial to clinicians and patients worldwide. This partnership marks a pivotal moment, signaling the recognition of nuclear medicine as a vital clinical entity on a global scale.

Bridging the Healthcare Gap: WFNMB and WHO Collaboration

Global collaboration in nuclear medicine.

The WFNMB's collaboration with the WHO is a game-changer for nuclear medicine. The WHO's recognition of the WFNMB as an official Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) signifies that nuclear medicine is now considered an official partner in global health initiatives. This recognition is long overdue, and its impact will be far-reaching.

The WHO operates primarily through regional offices, where working plans are devised and budgets are allocated. With six regional offices covering the globe, including the Western Pacific RO (WPRO), South Eastern Asian RO (SEARO), and Eastern Mediterranean RO (EMRO), the WHO's regional structure is crucial for implementing healthcare strategies at the local level.

Strategic Alignment: Aligning nuclear medicine with the WHO's regional strategies.
Resource Allocation: Directing resources effectively to address local healthcare needs.
Collaborative Initiatives: Fostering collaborative projects to enhance nuclear medicine practices.

With nuclear medicine recognized as a key component of human health maintenance, the WFNMB is poised to contribute to the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG3), which focuses on ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all. The WFNMB, under the WHO umbrella, will collaborate with organizations like the Asia Regional Cooperative Council for Nuclear Medicine (ARCCNM) and the Arabic Society of Nuclear Medicine, extending its reach and impact across diverse regions.

Looking Ahead: The Future of Nuclear Medicine

The journey ahead involves ensuring that nuclear medicine contributes to the improvement of global human health. Being part of the Integrated Service Delivery by the WHO and addressing the shortage of health workers in developing countries are critical steps. While cutting-edge technologies like PET/MRI and PET/CT are essential, radionuclide therapy and dosimetry remain fundamental. The focus should be on training radiopharmacists, nuclear medicine physicists, and nuclear medicine physicians to fully leverage these advancements.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

Everything You Need To Know

What is the role of the World Federation of Nuclear Medicine and Biology (WFNMB) in global healthcare?

The World Federation of Nuclear Medicine and Biology (WFNMB) is actively working to democratize nuclear medicine on a global scale. It is partnering with the World Health Organization (WHO) to bridge healthcare gaps, especially in developing countries. This partnership allows the WFNMB to contribute to the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG3), focusing on ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all. By collaborating with organizations like the Asia Regional Cooperative Council for Nuclear Medicine (ARCCNM) and the Arabic Society of Nuclear Medicine, WFNMB extends its impact across diverse regions, advocating for the implementation of nuclear medicine solutions and improving global human health.

How does the World Health Organization (WHO) contribute to the advancement of nuclear medicine?

The World Health Organization (WHO) plays a critical role by recognizing the World Federation of Nuclear Medicine and Biology (WFNMB) as an official Non-Governmental Organization (NGO). This recognition is pivotal, as it integrates nuclear medicine into global health initiatives. The WHO operates through its regional offices, such as the Western Pacific RO (WPRO), South Eastern Asian RO (SEARO), and Eastern Mediterranean RO (EMRO). These offices are key for implementing healthcare strategies locally. The WHO supports strategic alignment, resource allocation, and collaborative initiatives to enhance nuclear medicine practices worldwide.

What are the main challenges in the field of nuclear medicine globally?

Despite the advancements in precision and personalized medicine, nuclear medicine faces significant challenges, particularly in many regions. One major hurdle is inadequate infrastructure, which includes a lack of essential equipment and facilities. Another significant challenge is the shortage of trained professionals, such as radiopharmacists, nuclear medicine physicists, and nuclear medicine physicians. Economic constraints also play a critical role, as the high costs associated with nuclear medicine can limit access to treatments and diagnostics. These challenges highlight the need for a coordinated global strategy.

Why is the collaboration between the WFNMB and WHO considered a 'game-changer' for nuclear medicine?

The collaboration between the World Federation of Nuclear Medicine and Biology (WFNMB) and the World Health Organization (WHO) is transformative because it integrates nuclear medicine into the core of global health strategies. This partnership enables the WFNMB to leverage the WHO's extensive global network and regional offices, such as the Western Pacific RO (WPRO), South Eastern Asian RO (SEARO), and Eastern Mediterranean RO (EMRO), to implement healthcare initiatives more effectively. Being recognized as an official NGO by the WHO means that nuclear medicine gains a prominent role in the allocation of resources, strategic planning, and collaborative projects, ultimately aiming to address local healthcare needs and improve nuclear medicine practices worldwide.

What are the key areas of focus for the future of nuclear medicine?

The future of nuclear medicine centers on ensuring its contribution to the improvement of global human health. This involves several critical steps. Firstly, integrating nuclear medicine within the Integrated Service Delivery framework by the World Health Organization (WHO) is essential. Secondly, addressing the shortage of healthcare workers in developing countries is crucial. While advanced technologies like PET/MRI and PET/CT are important, the focus also remains on fundamental aspects such as radionuclide therapy and dosimetry. Furthermore, there is a need for training radiopharmacists, nuclear medicine physicists, and nuclear medicine physicians to fully utilize and advance these technologies.