History and Perspectives of Nuclear Medicine in Myanmar

Document Type : History and perspective

Author

Yangon General Hospital

Abstract

Nuclear Medicine was established in Myanmar in 1963 by Dr Soe Myint and International Atomic Energy expert Dr R. Hochel at Yangon General Hospital. Nuclear medicine diagnostic and therapeutic services started with Probe Scintillation Detector Systems and rectilinear scanner. In the early stage, many Nuclear Medicine specialists from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) spent some time in Myanmar and made significant contributions to the development of Nuclear Medicine in our country. The department participated in various IAEA technical cooperation projects and regional cooperation projects. By the late 1990s, new centers were established in Mandalay, Naypyidaw, and North Okkalapa Teaching Hospital of University of Medicine 11, Yangon. The training program related to Nuclear Medicine includes a postgraduate master’s degree (three years) at the University of Medicine. Currently, all centers are equipped with SPECT, SPECT-CT, PET-CT, and cyclotron in Yangon General Hospital. Up until now, the International Atomic Energy Agency has been playing a crucial role in the growth and development of Nuclear Medicine in Myanmar. Our vision is to provide a wide spectrum of nuclear medicine services at a level compatible with the international standards to become a Center of Excellence.

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References

1.  Ministry of Immigration and Population nation wide census report. Myanmar: Department of Population Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Population With technical assistance from UNFPA; 2014.
2.  Bom HH. History and perspectives of AOFNMB. Asia Ocean J Nucl Med Biol. 2013;1(1):3-5.
3. Bom H, Chung JK, Lee MC. A decade of the Asian regional cooperative council for nuclear medicine: a path to reduce heterogeneity of nuclear medicine practice in Asia. World J Nucl Med. 2011;10(2):113-4.
4. International Atomic Energy Agency Technical Co-operation Projects :
                        BUR/6/03 (1963-1964)–Radioisotope Application.
                        BUR/6/04 (1965-1969)–Radioisotope in Medicine.
                        BUR/6/05 (1973 – 1974)–Use of Radioisotope in Medicine.
                        BUR/6/06 (1974 – 1975)–Use of Radioisotope in Medicine.
                        BUR/6/002 (1974 – 1983)–Radioisotopes in Medicine – Radiobiochemistry.
                        BUR /6/012 (1975 – 1982)–Medical Application of Isotopes.
                        BUR/6/008 (1976 – 1980)–Radioisotopes in Medicine.
                        BUR/6/014 (1984 – 1996)–Nuclear Medicine Services – Yangon General Hospital & Mandalay General Hospital.
                        MYA/6/016 (1992–1996)–Upgrading of Nuclear Medicine Services.
                        MYA/6/019 (1995–1997)–RIA reagents for Neonatal Hypothyroid Screening.
                        MYA/6029 (2014–2016)–Strengthening Human Resource Capacity in Nuclear Medicine for improving Diagnostic Procedure in Cardiology & Oncology.
                        MYA/6032 (2016–2019)–Strengthening Human Resource Capacity in Nuclear Medicine & Radiotherapy services for improving the Diagnosis & Treatment of Cancer patients.
5. International Atomic Energy Agency, Regional Co-operation Agreement (RCA) Projects:
                        RAS/6/011 (1987–1991)–Radioimmunoassay of Thyroid Related Homones in Asia & the Pacific. External Quality Assurance Scheme.
                        RAS/6/018 (1994–1996)–Radioimmunoassay for Hepatitis B Diagnosis.
                        RAS/6/028 (1998–2001)–Thematic Programme on Health Care (a) Myocardial Perfusion Scintigraphy. (b) Breast Cancer–Scintimammography, RIA of CEA, Ca153. (c) Diabetic Nephropathy–RIA of Microalbuminuria. (d) Neonatal Hypothyroid Screening.
                        RAS/6/029 (2005)–Distance Assisted Training for Nuclear Medicine Technicians.
                        RAS/6/042 (2005)–Tumor Imaging using Radioisotopes.
                        RAS/6/043 (2005)–Regional Screening Network fot Neonatal Hypothyroidism.
6. International Atomic Energy Agency. TC Project MYA/6029/02/01. Thailand: Quanum Audit Team
IAEA Technical Officer on site Thomas Pascual; 2016.
 
7. Training courses, Meetings, Symposium:
                        - IAEA/RCA RAS 6063–Regional Training Course on “Strengthening the Application of Nuclear Medicine in the Management of Cardiovascular Diseases, Imaging in Ischemic Heart Disease & Cardiac Failure”, 10.12.2012 to 14.12.2012. Yangon. Myanmar.
                        - National Symposium on “Nuclear Medicine in routine clinical practice” organized by World Association of Radiopharmaceutical & Molecular Therapy (WARMTH), 10.03. 2013. Yangon.Myanmar.
                        - IAEA/RCA RAS 6074/9001/01-Initial Project Planning/Coordination Meeting for “Improving quality of life of cancer patients through streamlined and emerging therapeutic Nuclear Medicine techniques”, 13.10.2014 to 17.10.2014. Yangon. Myanmar.
                        - IAEA/RCA RAS 6079–Regional Training Course on “The role of Hybrid Imaging Technologies in nuclear oncology”, 21.09.2015 to 25.09.2015. Yangon. Myanmar.
 
Asia Oceania Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Biology
Volume 6, Issue 1
January 2018
Pages 68-74

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