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[The need for nuclear medicine specialists and gamma cameras]
1Centro de Medicina Nuclear, Hospital Clínico de la Universidad de Chile.
Background:
The ideal number of nuclear medicine specialists in relation to the needs of a given population should be defined by the institutions training such specialists.
Aim:
To establish the relationship between the number of gammacameras, nuclear medicine specialists and the number of inhabitants in different countries, including Chile.
Material And Methods:
Information was obtained from the International Atomic Energy Agency, Britannic and Canadian Nuclear Medicine Societies, Pan-American Health Organization and American College of Nuclear Physicians.
Results:
Industrialized countries have approximately 1 specialist and 0.5-3.3 gammacameras per 100,000 inhabitants. The respective figures in Chile are 0.25 and 0.25. Due to the unequal distribution of resources in Chile, the specialist and gammacameras rate in the Metropolitan area is 0.6, some regions or communities do not have these resources and in other communities the rate can raise up to nine.
Conclusions:
Compared to industrialized countries, Chile lacks nuclear medicine specialists and gammacameras, and these resources are unevenly distributed.