The geography and structure of nuclear medicine centres in the Russian Federation in 2025

The development of nuclear medicine has led to an increase in the use of open radionuclide sources and the associated processes of transporting ionising radiation sources and generating radioactive waste. This situation leads to focus on monitoring and accounting of ionising radiation sources in hospitals. The aim of the study was assessment of geographical distribution and structure of nuclear medicine centres in theRussian Federation. Material and Methods: The register of sanitary and epidemiological conclusions on the compliance (non-compliance) of activities (works, services) with the requirements of state sanitary and epidemiological rules and regulations were analyzed at the beginning of 2025. Results: 188 hospitals operated with radionuclide, are located in the Russian Federation in 2025, including 152 single photon diagnostic nuclear medicine departments (38 in Moscow and 20 in St. Petersburg); 81 positron emission tomography departments (26 in Moscow and 8 in St. Petersburg); 52 radiopharmaceutical therapy departments (12 departments in Moscow and 5 in St. Petersburg). According to the results of the study, all radiopharmaceutical therapy departments are based in diagnostic nuclear medicine centers. Conclusion: The current practice of organizing radiopharmaceutical therapy units based on diagnostic nuclear medicine units does not allow to consider the radiation safety issues separately for diagnostics and therapy. It is reasonable to have uniform requirements for nuclear medicine units