Challenges confronting sustainability in nuclear medicine practice.

Area of Science:

• Nuclear Medicine
• Sustainability Science

Background:

• Sustainability is defined as balanced consumption and regeneration, encompassing environmental, economic, social, human resources, and ecological dimensions.
• Nuclear medicine practices face multifaceted threats to sustainability across these five dimensions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify key issues threatening sustainability in nuclear medicine.
• To outline specific challenges and adaptations for each of the five dimensions of sustainability.
• To explore opportunities for improving the sustainability of nuclear medicine.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of sustainability principles within nuclear medicine.
• Identification of challenges related to resource scarcity, workforce shortages, and supply disruptions.
• Examination of the interplay between the five dimensions of sustainability.

Main Results:

• Key issues threaten nuclear medicine sustainability, requiring compromises between conflicting priorities.
• Resource scarcity, workforce shortages, and supply disruptions pose significant challenges.
• Nuclear medicine benefits from an innovative culture that fosters adaptation.

Conclusions:

• Navigating sustainability in nuclear medicine is challenging due to resource limitations.
• Specific adaptations are necessary for each of the five sustainability dimensions.
• Improving nuclear medicine sustainability requires a deeper understanding of the interconnectedness of its dimensions.