Current Status of Theranostics in West Asia: A Country-based Surveillance Study

Area of Science:

• Nuclear Medicine
• Radiopharmacy
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Theranostics, combining diagnostic and therapeutic nuclear medicine, is a rapidly evolving field.
• Assessing the current state of theranostics in West Asia is crucial for regional healthcare development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a surveillance study on the status of theranostics in West Asia.
• To analyze the availability, production, coverage, and influencing factors of theranostic services across 15 countries.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive surveillance study analyzing data from 15 West Asian countries.
• Assessment of theranostic service availability, production, coverage, staff density, infrastructure, and financial/political impacts.

Main Results:

• Theranostic services are offered in all surveyed countries except Yemen, with 452 centers and 1,426 physicians.
• Lower GDP countries (<$200 billion) showed significantly reduced infrastructure and manpower, especially for cyclotron and theranostic agent availability.
• Politically stable countries had statistically higher densities of theranostic personnel compared to unstable nations.

Conclusions:

• Significant disparities exist in theranostic resources and personnel density across West Asia, influenced by GDP and political stability.
• Enhanced collaboration between countries with established services and those with limited resources is essential to advance theranostic practice and accessibility in the region.