12 March 2026·PIB

PARLIAMENT QUESTION: RADIOPHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS

In this note

1. At a Glance

Radiopharmaceuticals = radioisotope-tagged drugs used for both diagnosis and therapy, especially in cancer care [1].
Falls under the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), executed via BARC (R&D) and BRIT (production/supply) [1][2].
Important for UPSC: intersection of GS-III (Science & Tech, Health) with India's non-power nuclear programme and Atmanirbhar Bharat in critical drugs.

12 March 2026: Union MoS (IC) S&T / Atomic Energy Dr Jitendra Singh answered a Parliament Question on radiopharmaceutical products, detailing India's indigenous radioisotope ecosystem and supply network [1][4].
Reaffirmed national capability in PSMA-617 (Lu-177) for prostate cancer and Brachytherapy sources for tumour-localised radiation [1][5].

DAE set up in 1954 under direct charge of the PM; non-power applications expanded over decades [2].
BRIT (Board of Radiation and Isotope Technology) carved out as a DAE unit (1989) at Vashi, Navi Mumbai to commercialise BARC's radioisotope work [2].
Dhruva reactor (BARC, Trombay) and a medical cyclotron form the production backbone for isotopes [2].
Indigenous 177Lu-PSMA-617 developed by BARC as an import substitute for prostate cancer therapy [5].

Nodal ministry/dept: Department of Atomic Energy (under PMO) [1].
Producing/supplying agency: BRIT, Navi Mumbai [2].
R&D agency: BARC, Trombay [1][2].
Reach: Radiopharmaceuticals supplied to >400 nuclear medicine centres across India [2].
Key isotopes produced: Mo-99, I-125, I-131, Sm-153, Lu-177 (in Dhruva reactor); F-18 (cyclotron) [2].
Products: radiopharmaceuticals, technetium-99m generators, immunoassay kits, radiochemicals, labelled compounds, luminous compounds [2].
Brachytherapy: internal radiation therapy — radioactive sources placed inside/near the tumor for concentrated dose with limited damage to healthy tissue [1].
E-portal: eportal.britatom.gov.in for users [2].

Scientific/Technological: Indigenous synthesis of peptide/small-molecule ligands; BARC scales lab-to-clinic translation in partnership with nuclear medicine centres [1]. Use of theranostics (diagnosis + therapy from same molecule, e.g., Lu-177 PSMA) [5].
Economic: Import substitution for high-cost cancer drugs (PSMA-617) reduces forex outgo; BRIT model makes them cost-effective for Indian hospitals [1][5].
Social/Health: Non-invasive diagnosis and targeted therapy improve cancer outcomes; >400 nuclear medicine centres widen access [1][2].
Strategic: India donates Bhabhatron teletherapy units to developing countries (Mongolia, Sri Lanka, Madagascar) via IAEA PACT — soft-power health diplomacy [5].
Administrative: Vertical integration — BARC (R&D) → Dhruva/cyclotron (production) → BRIT (distribution) → hospitals; minimal private competition for reactor-grade isotopes [2].

12 Mar 2026: Parliament Q&A on radiopharmaceutical products by Dr Jitendra Singh [1].
2025 PQ on Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospitals & Radiopharmaceutical Production Centres flagged expansion of production capacity [3].
DAE Year-End Review 2025 highlighted radiation-tech rollouts [6].
2024: BRIT launched indigenous ROTEX-I industrial radiography device (allied radiation-tech product) [2].

Radiopharmaceuticals are produced under the Department of Atomic Energy, not Ministry of Health [1].
BRIT = Board of Radiation and Isotope Technology, HQ Navi Mumbai (Vashi) [2].
Mo-99, I-131, Lu-177, Sm-153, I-125 produced in Dhruva reactor; F-18 via medical cyclotron [2].
177Lu-PSMA-617 = indigenous radiopharmaceutical for prostate cancer [5].
Tc-99m generators (parent: Mo-99) are workhorse of nuclear medicine diagnostics [2].
Brachytherapy = INTERNAL radiation therapy (source inside/near tumour) — distinguish from Teletherapy (external beam) [1].
Radiopharmaceuticals reach >400 nuclear medicine centres in India [2].
Bhabhatron is an indigenous teletherapy (Cobalt-60) machine, donated abroad under IAEA PACT [5].
DAE is under the Prime Minister (not a separate Cabinet minister) [1].
Minister answering the PQ: Dr Jitendra Singh, MoS (IC) Atomic Energy [1].

GS-III: Science & Technology — indigenisation, achievements of Indians in S&T, applications in everyday life; Health.
GS-II: Government policies / health services delivery.
Probable stems: 1. "Discuss the role of the Department of Atomic Energy in India's cancer-care ecosystem with reference to radiopharmaceuticals and Brachytherapy." 2. "Indigenous development of radiopharmaceuticals advances India's strategic autonomy in healthcare. Examine." 3. "Evaluate the BARC-BRIT institutional model for translating nuclear R&D into affordable clinical products."

Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospitals network — DAE's clinical arm.
AERB (Atomic Energy Regulatory Board) — safety regulator for radioisotope use.
IAEA PACT (Programme of Action for Cancer Therapy) — international link.
Nuclear Energy Mission 2026 — power side of DAE.
PMBJP & Jan Aushadhi — contrast on affordable drug access model.
National Cancer Grid / Tata Memorial Centre — cancer-care institutional ecosystem.
Theranostics & PET-CT (F-18 FDG) — diagnostic side of nuclear medicine.
Atomic Energy Act, 1962 — enabling legislation for DAE bodies.

Confusing BRIT (Board of Radiation and Isotope Technology) with BRIT(UK)/British — BRIT here is Indian DAE unit [2].
Mixing Brachytherapy (internal) with Teletherapy/EBRT (external) — Bhabhatron is teletherapy, not brachytherapy [1][5].
Assigning radiopharmaceuticals to MoHFW — actually DAE [1].
Believing Lu-177 PSMA is imported — it is now indigenously made by BARC/BRIT [5].
Confusing Mo-99 (reactor) with F-18 (cyclotron) production routes [2].